The effect of surface recombination on the open circuit voltage of a solar cell based on a single nanowire with a radial p-n-junction

An analytical model is proposed for studying the effect of surface recombination on the characteristics of a solar cell based on a nanowire with a radial p-n junction formed between its 'core' and 'shell' of different types of conductivity. When varying over a wide range of shell widths, the effect of surface recombination on such important parameters of a solar cell as short circuit current, open circuit voltage, and the efficiency of solar energy conversation into electrical energy is considered. It is shown that the relatively low open circuit voltage, often observed experimentally in such solar cells, can be caused by significant surface recombination on the sidewall of the nanowire, the role of which increases with decreasing nanowire diameter and increasing surface to volume ratio