Modeling of dual-metal Schottky contacts based silicon micro and nano wire solar cells

We study solar cell properties of single silicon wires connected at their ends to two dissimilar metals of different work functions. Effects of wire dimensions, the work functions of the metals, and minority carrier lifetimes on short circuit current as well as open circuit voltage are studied. The most efficient photovoltaic behavior is found to occur when one metal makes a Schottky contact with the wire, and the other makes an Ohmic contact. As wire length increases, both short circuit current and open circuit voltage increase before saturation occurs. Depending on the work function difference between the metals and the wire dimensions, the saturation length increases by approximately an order of magnitude with a two order magnitude increase in minority carrier length. However current per surface area exposed to light is found to decrease rapidly with increase in length. The use of a multi-contact interdigitated design for long wires is investigated to increase the photovoltaic response of the devices. •Schottky contact based nano/micro wire based solar cells are studied.•Dissimilar contact work functions avoid any need for doping.•Both current and voltage increase with wire length before saturation.•VOC and ISC saturation lengths are approximately five times carrier diffusion length.•Use of interdigitated contact patterns significantly increase short circuit current.