Silicon Nanowire Solar Cell

It is now an accepted fact that global warming due to greenhouse gases is occurring and could have a devastating effect for future life on earth. The need for the United States to plan, develop, and implement alternative, clean energy technologies is critical. In particular, the photovoltaic generation of electricity from the sun is a sustainable, elegant, clean, and practical source of usable energy. This project will develop silicon-nanowire-based photovoltaic technology as a highly efficient, low cost alternative energy source. Phase I established process technology for fabricating radial, p-n core-shell, silicon nanowire arrays on low cost, anodic, aluminum-oxide-coated glass substrates. This fabrication of large area photovoltaics represents an important first step towards the realization of commercial nanowire-based solar cell devices. Phase II will optimize the junction interface, electrical contacts, and nanowire growth process, in order to produce better devices. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: A current impediment to the widespread utilization of photovoltaic technology is the cost, which is approximately four times that of the currently dominant means of generating electrical power. Nanotechnology-enabled solar cells could help bring the cost of solar power down to more competitive levels