Tunneling conductivity of superlattice GaAs/AlGaAs n-i-p solar cells by means of the generalized Kubo-Greenwood formula and the Green's function

摘要

The author derives, from first principles, an explicit result for the perpendicular conductivity of superlattice solar cells by means of the generalized Kubo-Greenwood formulas and the Green's function. The advantage of superlattice based solar cells, when compared to their bulk counterparts is that quantization of energy levels takes place within the quantum wells leading to enhancement of conductivity. These energy levels form minibands that allow the carriers to tunnel through the barriers.