Optimum design of InGaP/GaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells with sub-wavelength surface texture structure

Abstract

In this study, we design the InGaP/GaAs/Ge triplejunction solar cells by optimizing short-circuit current matching between top and middle cells using Crosslight APSYS software. The base thickness of top InGaP cell is optimized at 0.36 um and the base thickness of middle GaAs cell is optimized at 3.2 um under AM1.5G illumination. For the optimized solar cell with nanorod arrays surface texture structure, the maximum I sc is 13.512 mA/cm 2 , the open-circuit voltage (V oc ) is 2.614 V, and the conversion efficiency (Ș) is 30.686 %. The enhancement of the I sc and the efficiency were 13.68 % and 12.24 %.

Performance Analysis of Impurity Photovoltaic Effect in Solar Cells

“…It has been stated before that the short circuit current in a multijunction cell is determined by the sub-cell producing the lowest current [3]. It is apparent from the results that in this case, InGaAs is that sub-cell.…”

“…For higher efficiency, the device structure design, novel materials, epitaxial layer quality improvement and device process of improving optical absorption properties are presented in literature [1]- [6]. In this regard, multijunction solar cells based on III-V compound semiconductors have received much attention in recent years because they can provide wide range absorption in the solar spectrum from visible to infrared and generate high conversion efficiency [1]- [3]. This can not be achieved with a single junction cell which has limited wavelength response specified by bandgap.…”

“…by extending the accessible range of frequency of photons via the introduction of impurity [4]- [6]. IPV effect increases the short circuit current density (J sc short circuit current is limited by the junction or cell producing the lowest current [3]. In fact, for a given illumination concentration, the short-circuit current density decreases as the number of PV junctions in the system is increased [3].…”

“…IPV effect increases the short circuit current density (J sc short circuit current is limited by the junction or cell producing the lowest current [3]. In fact, for a given illumination concentration, the short-circuit current density decreases as the number of PV junctions in the system is increased [3]. So, current matching between component cells in a multijunction setup is a crucial concern.…”