Nanocrystalline silicon for photovoltaics and integrated photonics

This paper investigates the applications of nanocrystalline semiconductors, and in particular silicon nanostructures, in the areas of integrated photonics and photovoltaics. The fundamental principles, properties, and performance advantages resulting from the incorporation of nanostructures in photovoltaic and photonic devices are examined. Several device structures as well as fabrication and characterization approaches that are expected to lead in devices with improved performance and/or lower manufacturing cost are proposed and discussed.