Recent developments in high-efficiency Ga0.5In0.5P/GaAs/Ge dual- and triple-junction solar cells: steps to next-generation PV cells

Karam, N.H.; King, Richard R.; Haddad, M.; Ermer, J.; Yoon, Hyoseok; Cotal, H.; Sudharsanan, R.; Eldredge, J.; Edmondson, K.; Joslin, David; Krut, D.D.; Takahashi, Mark; Nishikawa, W.; Gillanders, M.; Granata, Jennifer E; Hébert, Peter; Cavicchi, B.T.; Lillington, D.R.

doi:10.1016/s0927-0248(00)00207-5

Cited by 92 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…Although the fabrication processes have not been well disclosed, the photovoltaic layers are attached to metal or polymer supporting films and the parent substrates for the epitaxial growth are removed somehow. For further improvement of the cell efficiency, cells with more junctions are being proposed such as an InGaP/GaAs/InGaAsN/Ge four-junction (4J) structure [34], which will be also discussed in the following section. Recently an (Al)InGaP/InGaP/Al(In)GaAs/(In)GaAs/InGaAsN/Ge 6J cell has been demonstrated [35].…”

Section: Developments Of Multijunction Iii-v Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

Tanabe

2009

Energies

151

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Solar cells are a promising renewable, carbon-free electric energy resource to address the fossil fuel shortage and global warming. Energy conversion efficiencies around 40% have been recently achieved in laboratories using III-V semiconductor compounds as photovoltaic materials. This article reviews the efforts and accomplishments made for higher efficiency III-V semiconductor compound solar cells, specifically with multijunction tandem, lower-dimensional, photonic up/down conversion, and plasmonic metallic structures. Technological strategies for further performance improvement from the most efficient (Al)InGaP/(In)GaAs/Ge triple-junction cells including the search for 1.0 eV bandgap semiconductors are discussed. Lower-dimensional systems such as quantum well and dot structures are being intensively studied to realize multiple exciton generation and multiple photon absorption to break the conventional efficiency limit. Implementation of plasmonic metallic nanostructures manipulating photonic energy flow directions to enhance sunlight absorption in thin photovoltaic semiconductor materials is also emerging.

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Section: Developments Of Multijunction Iii-v Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

Tanabe

2009

Energies

151

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“…However, the compound GaAs is stable and not toxic [70]- [72]. GaAs cells possess band gap energy of 1.43 -1.7 eV so they can absorb photons with higher energy levels than crystalline silicon PV cells [56], [57], [72]. In addition, GaAs has high absorptivity.…”

Section: Gallium Arsenide (Gaas) Pv Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to possessing a PCE of 29% which is the highest for any single junction PV cell [55], [73], GaAs cells are heat and radiation resistant. They possess a temperature coefficient p Max of 0% which means no performance loss with respect to temperature rise from STC [56], [57]. However, GaAs cells fail to dominate the market with just about 1% of the market share as seen in Fig.…”

Section: Gallium Arsenide (Gaas) Pv Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The p-n junction of each material produces electric current in response to different wavelengths of light [72], [108], [109]. Operating band gap energy range is 1.1 to 1.7 eV [50], [56], [94], [98]. The top cell material possesses the highest band gap and covers the highest absorption area [50] while underlying cells absorbs the section of the solar spectrum with smaller wavelengths.…”

Section: Multi-junction /Tandem /Cascaded Pv Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of photovoltaic module technologies for increased performance in tropical climate

Ogbomo

Amalu

Ekere

et al. 2017

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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The global adoption and use of photovoltaic modules (PVMs) as the main source of energy is the key to realising the UN Millennium Development Goals on Green Energy. The technology -projected to contribute about 20% of world energy supply by 2050, over 60% by 2100 and leading to 50% reduction in global CO 2 emissions -is threatened by its poor performance in tropical climate. Such performance discourages its regional acceptance. The magnitude of crucial module performance influencing factors (cell temperature, wind speed and relative humidity) reach critical values of 90°C, 0.2 m/s and 85%, respectively in tropical climates which negatively impact module performance indices which include power output (PO), power conversion efficiency (PCE) and energy payback time (EPBT). This investigation reviews PVM technologies which include cell, contact and interconnection technologies. It identifies critical technology route(s) with potential to increase operational reliability of PVMs in the tropics when adopted. The cell performance is measured by PO, PCE and EPBT while contacts and interconnections performance is measured by the degree of recombination, shading losses and also the rate of thermo-mechanical degradation. It is found that the mono-crystalline cell has the best PCE of 25% while the Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) cell has the lowest EPBT of 8-months. Results show that the poly-crystalline cell has the largest market share amounting to 54%. The CdTe cell exhibits 0% drop in PCE at high-temperatures and low irradiance operations -demonstrating least affected PO by the conditions. Further results establish that back contacts and back-to-back interconnection technologies produce the least recombination losses and demonstrate absence of shading in addition to possessing longest interconnection fatigue life. Based on these findings, the authors propose a PVM comprising CdTe cell, back contacts and backto-back interconnection technologies as the technology with latent capacity to produce improved performance in tropical climates. Keywordsphotovoltaic modules; solar cell technology; contact technology; interconnection technology; energy payback time; power conversion efficiency; fatigue life. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 2 *Manuscript Click here to view linked References IntroductionThe annual electrical power consumption of the entire planet can be generated by the sun in just one hour [1]. Thus, solar energy is abundant in addition to being clean, sustainable and renewable [2], [3]. Surprisingly, some parts of the world are still struggling to meet their energy needs. It may suffice to say that the regions experiencing energy issues may be having energy conversion problems rather than energy supply problems [2], [4]. It is projected that if 100% exploitation of the energy potentials of the sun ca...

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“…The binary compound InP is also a natural substrate widely used for both optoelectronic and high speed device applications. In the last years, ternary Al x In 1−x P alloys is the alloy of two binaries AlP and InP, has been studied by several theoretical [2][3][4] and experimental [5][6][7] research group because of its potential for the applications such as GaInP/GaAs solar cell [8,9] and visible lasers and modulators [10]. The aim of this work is to investigate the structural properties, such as the equilibrium lattice constants (a 0 ) and bulk modulus (B 0 ), and electronic properties of binary compounds, AlP and InP, and ternary alloys Al x In 1−x P by employing the density functional theory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural and Electronic Properties of Ternary Al_xIn_1-xP Alloys

Baǧcı

Yalcin

2015

Acta Phys. Pol. A

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III-V based alloys and heterostructures have much attention due to their great device applications as well as for the development of electronic, optic and optoelectronic devices. Because of this reason, the present study reports an investigation of the structural optimization of ternary alloys AlxIn1−xP. Method of WIEN2k code is applied considering Wu-Cohen correlation energy functional based on density functional theory. We have constructed 1×1×1 supercell containing 8 atoms in zinc-blende structure. For all studied alloys structure, we have implemented geometric optimization before the volume optimization calculations. In this work, the structural and electronic properties of ternary alloys AlxIn1−xP are presented. The obtained equilibrium lattice constants of studied binary compounds are more compatible with experimental data compared to standard semilocal (LDA-PBE) calculations.

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Recent developments in high-efficiency Ga0.5In0.5P/GaAs/Ge dual- and triple-junction solar cells: steps to next-generation PV cells

Cited by 92 publications

References 4 publications

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

A review of photovoltaic module technologies for increased performance in tropical climate

Structural and Electronic Properties of Ternary Al_xIn_1-xP Alloys

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Recent developments in high-efficiency Ga0.5In0.5P/GaAs/Ge dual- and triple-junction solar cells: steps to next-generation PV cells

Cited by 92 publications

References 4 publications

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

A review of photovoltaic module technologies for increased performance in tropical climate

Structural and Electronic Properties of Ternary AlxIn1-xP Alloys

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Structural and Electronic Properties of Ternary Al_xIn_1-xP Alloys