Interfacial Electron Transport in Oxide Films: Fundamentals and Applications to Solar Phot

Advanced photovoltaic devices rely on the transfer of charge between light absorbing semiconductors and conducting oxide films. Kelvin force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy) of the transparent conducting oxide ZnO:Al reveal the role of grain boundaries and oxygen defects interfacial electron transport. Our results lead to new device concepts, including a hot electron solar cell based on resonant tunneling.