Investigation of Silicon Nanowires Roles in Solar Cells

This paper will discuss the science of nanowire technology in the field of solar energy. It will elaborate on how this recent innovation improves upon the current methods in efficiency, cost, and durability. The value of this technology to its field, and its ability to make solar power a viable worldwide option will also be discussed. It is estimated that the world’s supply of fossil fuels will be reduced to a bare minimum during this century. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar This paper will discuss the science of nanowire technology in the field of solar energy. It will elaborate on how this recent innovation improves upon the current methods in efficiency, cost, and durability. The value of this technology to its field, and its ability to make solar power a viable worldwide option will also be discussed. It is estimated that the world’s supply of fossil fuels will be reduced to a bare minimum during this century. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy have yet to become major contributors to our energy supply due to their cost and efficiency. Presently, nanotechnology is being introduced into the field of solar energy to combat this fault and improve both efficiency and cost. Nanowire solar cells that have already been developed are mostly based on hybrid organic-inorganic materials or are made of semiconductors.  Presently the efficiency produced by the traditional crystalline silicon based solar cells is approximately 6.5% [1]. These first attempts at using nanowires in solar cells have increased this efficiency up to 8.5%. New technologies are looking into all-inorganic solar cells based on silicon nanowires. The silicon nanowires are relatively easy to synthesize and can be used with low cost substrate technologies like glass and metal foil. These low cost substrates will allow the nanowires to be not only durable but also much easier to produce than current silicon base solar cells [2]. Overall the continued developments in fields such as this are crucial if we as a nation are committed to securing the stability of our economy.