The solar market showed global potential of renewable energy industry by achieving an explosive growth of 75% annually from 2006 to 2010 with the support of government's subsidy. However the rapid growth in the short term had a side effect of increasing the burden of government's subsidy. As the countries in Europe which are the main demand markets for photovoltaic are significantly reducing the fund and carrying out the Rooftop policy the demand for low cost high efficiency solar cell that can generate high output from small area is growing.

There are many ways to increase the solar cell conversion efficiency but quantum dot solar cell is especially receiving more attention since it is a concept that overcomes the theoretical limitations of original solar cell. Quantum dot is a nano-crystalline structure of several nm to 10 nm surrounded by high barrier materials and since the electrons and holes inside the quantum dot are confined in narrow space the energy level becomes discrete. According to some study research solar cell efficiency can increase up to more than 60% in theory if the quantum dot characteristics are optimized and utilized.

Quantum dot solar cell can be divided into compound solar cell, silicon solar cell and nano particle/core shell solar cell depending on the field applied. Compound solar cell can be applied to satellite, military and concentrated solar cell and is expected to be commercialized before or after 2020 when stabilized efficiency of 20% in flat structure and 40% in tandem structure will be realized. Silicon quantum dot solar cell is expected to replace a-Si thin film solar cell by 2015 when 20% of stabilized efficiency of tandem structure is expected to be realized. Technology development is required for silicon quantum dot solar cell to transfer in to crystalline structure. Nano particle/core shell solar cell can be applied to DSSC and OPV and is currently expected to be commercialized in about 2020 when stabilized efficiency of 8%~12% will be reached.

In today's solar cell market where growth in demand of high efficiency solar is inevitable the importance of Quantum Dot solar cell will be increased and active research will be expected in each sector as the quantum dot solar cell development is a promising next generation technology.

Figure. Quantum Dot Solar Cell Roadmap and Technology Issue

(Source: Solar&Energy,"Quantum Dot Solar Cell Technology Trend and Commercialization Forecast"2012)

Solar&Energy published a report about "Quantum Dot Solar Cell Technology Trend and Commercialization Forecast" containing detailed contents about quantum dot solar cell technology for high efficiency solar cell and the future forecast.

In this report the following topics will be covered for quantum dot solar cell

1. Quantum dot solar cell theory and outline
2. Quantum dot solar cell principle and manufacturing process, technology issue and application field by type
3. Global research center technology development trend
4. Quantum dot solar cell primary patent trend
5. Quantum dot solar cell technology trend and commercialization forecast