LIGHT-ABSORBING MATERIAL AND PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT USING SAME

摘要

Disclosed is a new light-absorbing material that can increase the conversion efficiency of a solar cell. Further disclosed is a photoelectric conversion element using same. The light-absorbing material comprises a nitride compound semiconductor-which is a compound semiconductor represented by Al1-yGayN (0 = y = 1) of which a portion of the Al and/or Ga has been replaced by a 3d transition metal-has at least one impurity band, and has an optical absorption coefficient of at least 1000 cm-1 in the entire wavelength region that is between 300 nm and 1500 nm, inclusive.