Energy Yield Analysis of Multiterminal Si-Based Tandem Solar Cells

Schulte‐Huxel, Henning; Silverman, Timothy J.; Deceglie, Michael G.; Friedman, Daniel; Tamboli, Adele C.

doi:10.1109/jphotov.2018.2846520

Cited by 28 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…While much research has focused on achieving better performance through optimized subcells, the internal interconnection of tandem solar cells, the associated number of terminals, the corresponding cell architecture, and the module and system integration scheme, are also of great importance. These aspects determine the efficiency and annual energy yield of a photovoltaic system . For dual‐junction solar cells, top and bottom cells are commonly either interconnected in series featuring two terminals (2Ts) (Figure C) or work independently with the need for four terminals (4Ts) (Figure A,B).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A mid‐contacted 3T tandem enables a monolithic tandem solar cell, which combines the monolithic design of 2T tandems and the flexibility of 4T tandem cells. Furthermore, Gee, and Schulte‐Huxel et al studied module integration schemes for 3T tandem cells in voltage‐matched 2T modules by means of simple equivalent circuit modeling and proved nearly loss‐free integration and higher energy yields compared with series‐connected 2T tandem cell modules …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These aspects determine the efficiency and annual energy yield of a photovoltaic system. [15][16][17][18][19][20] For dual-junction solar cells, top and bottom cells are commonly either interconnected in series featuring two terminals (2Ts) ( Figure 1C) or work independently with the need for four terminals (4Ts) ( Figure 1A,B).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, Gee, 29,39 and Schulte-Huxel et al 40 studied module integration schemes for 3T tandem cells in voltage-matched 2T modules by means of simple equivalent circuit modeling and proved nearly loss-free integration and higher energy yields compared with seriesconnected 2T tandem cell modules. 17,20 However, fabricating the transparent and highly conductive middle electrode is challenging and can reduce device area. Thus, it is beneficial to move the third terminal to the rear side of the bottom cell by using industrial-type IBC bottom cells.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Back‐contacted bottom cells with three terminals: Maximizing power extraction from current‐mismatched tandem cells

Rienäcker

Warren

Schnabel

et al. 2019

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Multi‐junction cells can significantly improve the energy yield of photovoltaic systems over a single‐junction cell. The internal interconnection scheme of the subcells is an important aspect in determining the resulting levelized cost of electricity. For a dual‐junction cell, two approaches are commonly discussed: series‐connected tandem cells with two terminals or independently working subcells in a four‐terminal (4T) tandem device. In this paper, we explore the working principle and the operation modes of a third, rarely discussed option: a three‐terminal (3T) tandem cell using a back‐contacted bottom cell with 3Ts. We use current–voltage measurements of illuminated 3T interdigitated back contact cells and confirm that the front and rear base contacts are at similar quasi‐Fermi level positions, which enables the bottom cell to either efficiently collect surplus carriers, in the case of a current‐limiting or carrier injecting top cell, or inject majority carriers, in the case of a current‐limiting bottom cell. As a result, no current matching is needed. The power output of an idealized 3T bottom cell without resistive effects is independent of the current density applied from the top cell. These characteristics of the 3T bottom cells enable a 3T tandem to operate as efficiently as a 4T tandem, while being compatible with monolithic design and not requiring intermediate grids. We propose a simple equivalent circuit model including additional resistive effects, which describes a real 3T bottom cell and achieves excellent agreement to the experiment. We deduce design guidelines for a 3T bottom cell in different operation regimes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Back‐contacted bottom cells with three terminals: Maximizing power extraction from current‐mismatched tandem cells

Rienäcker

Warren

Schnabel

et al. 2019

Progress in Photovoltaics

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“…Also, the condition of current-matching makes multi-junction solar cells sensitive to spectral changes caused by the movement of the sun in the sky and by atmospheric phenomena [6]. This results in a significant reduction of the annual energy yield for three or more junctions with respect to the case where the same junctions were independently connected [7], [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considerations for the Design of a Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor Solar Cell

Antolín

Zehender

García‐Linares

et al. 2020

IEEE J. Photovoltaics

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Independent current extraction in multi-junction solar cells has gained attention in recent years because it can deliver higher annual energy yield and can work for more semiconductor material combinations than the more established series-connected multi-junction technology. The heterojunction bipolar transistor solar cell concept (HBTSC) was recently proposed as a simple, compact and cost-effective multi-terminal device structure that allows independent current extraction. It consists of only three main layers: emitter, base and collector. In this work we use a drift-diffusion model to analyze important aspects in the design of an HBTSC structure based on typical III-V semiconductor materials. We find that carrier injection from the emitter into the collector (transistor effect) degrades the opencircuit voltage of the top sub-cell, but this risk can be eliminated by optimizing the base design. We find requirements for the base layer which are, in principle, achievable in the context of current III-V semiconductor technology.Index Terms -Drift-diffusion model, heterojunction bipolar transistor solar cell, multi-junction solar cell, novel photovoltaic concept.

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Choose Your Own Adventure: Fabrication of Monolithic All‐Perovskite Tandem Photovoltaics

et al. 2020

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power conversion efficiencies (PCE) certified over 25% [9] merely 10 years after their first report (no small feat). [10,11] Perovskites have also made rapid progress in stability [12] (which is arguably their Achilles heel) now with regular reports of thousands of hours, [13-17] reaching up to one year, [18] of device operational stability, even at elevated temperatures. [19,20] Finally, there have been impressive efforts in scaling the MHP deposition methods to maintain film uniformity over larger areas, through the use of novel solvent chemistries [21-23] and a variety of processing techniques [24,25] which has culminated in a certified 17.25% PCE for a ≈20 cm 2 module [26] and 17.9% PCE for a >800 cm 2 module. [27] An additional unique characteristic of MHPs is the ability to widely tune the composition of ABX 3 where A is usually a mixture of methylammonium (MA +), formamidinium (FA +) and cesium (Cs +); B can be a mixture of Pb 2+ and Sn 2+ ; and X is typically a mixture of I − , Br − , and Cl −. Changing the composition allows the bandgap (E g) to be modulated from ≈1.2 to >2.4 eV. [28-32] A large range of compositions and bandgaps have been used to make solar cells with PCEs over 20%. [4,33-39] The ability to reach high efficiencies at a wide range of bandgaps naturally motivates the use of perovskites in multijunction photovoltaics with various absorbers employed in tandem. By coupling together two MHPs with complementary bandgaps into a tandem device (Figure 1A), the incident solar spectrum can be more efficiently converted than in a single bandgap device by reducing the thermalization losses. This loss reduction increases the maximum attainable PCE. [40] Pairing the high efficiency (>30%) with the promises for ultralow cost manufacturing and light weight makes all-perovskite tandems one of the most exciting PV technologies in a generation. This combination of characteristics not only has the potential to further lower the solar electricity costs, but also to open the field to applications beyond the capabilities of the crystalline silicon dominant market, such as unmanned aerial vehicles. [41-44] While single-junction perovskite cells currently have demonstrated the highest efficiencies among polycrystalline thin-film PVs, they are likely to have a maximum practical efficiency of ≈28% PCE whereas all-perovskite tandems have a clear path to well over 30%. [40,45] There has been a flurry of work on monolithic, 2-terminal (2T) perovskite-based tandems, pairing a wide-E g MHP with materials such as low-E g tin/lead (Sn/Pb) Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have transfixed the photovoltaic (PV) community due to their outstanding and tunable optoelectronic properties coupled to demonstrations of high-power conversion efficiencies (PCE) at a range of bandgaps. This has motivated the field to push perovskites to reach the highest possible performance. One way to increase the efficiency is by fabricating multijunction solar cells, which can split the solar spectrum, reducing thermalization loss. Low-cost all-pero...

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Energy Yield Analysis of Multiterminal Si-Based Tandem Solar Cells

Cited by 28 publications

References 32 publications

Back‐contacted bottom cells with three terminals: Maximizing power extraction from current‐mismatched tandem cells

Back‐contacted bottom cells with three terminals: Maximizing power extraction from current‐mismatched tandem cells

Considerations for the Design of a Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor Solar Cell

Choose Your Own Adventure: Fabrication of Monolithic All‐Perovskite Tandem Photovoltaics

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