Solar cells get boost from GaAs nanowires

The team claims that if it is placed on top of a traditional silicon-based solar cell, it could potentially double the efficiency of today’s Si solar cells at low cost.

“We have a new method of using gallium arsenide [GaAs] material in a very effective way through nanostructuring, so we can make solar cells much more efficient using only a tiny fraction of the material that is normally used,” said Anjan Mukherjee, a PhD candidate at the Department of Electronic Systems and main developer of the technique.

GaAs is used to make high-efficiency solar cells because of its exceptional light absorption and electrical characteristics. It is commonly used to make solar panels for use in space. High-quality GaAs solar cell components are, however, quite expensive to fabricate, which has driven a demand for techniques that can reduce the use of the material.

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Researchers have realised that a nanowire structure can potentially enhance solar cell efficiency compared to standard planar solar cells, even as less material is used.