Tunnel Junctions, as addressed in this review, are conductive, optically transparent semiconductor layers used to join different semiconductor materials in order to increase overall device efficiency. The first monolithic multi-junction solar cell was grown in 1980 at NCSU and utilized an AlGaAs/AlGaAs tunnel junction. In the last 4 decades both the development and analysis of tunnel junction structures and their application to multi-junction solar cells has resulted in significant performance gains. In this review we will first make note of significant studies of III-V tunnel junction materials and performance, then discuss their incorporation into cells and modeling of their characteristics. A Recent study implicating thermally activated compensation of highly doped semiconductors by native defects rather than dopant diffusion in tunnel junction thermal degradation will be discussed. AlGaAs/InGaP tunnel junctions, showing both high current capability and high transparency (high bandgap), are the current standard for space applications. Of significant note is a variant of this structure containing a quantum well interface showing the best performance to date. This has been studied by several groups and will be discussed at length in order to show a path to future improvements.

Raising the efficiency ceiling of multi-junction solar cells (MJSCs) through the use of more optimal band gap configurations of next-generation MJSC is crucial for concentrator and space systems. Towards this goal, we propose two strain balanced multiple quantum well (SBMQW) structures to tune the bandgap of InGaP-based solar cells. These structures are based on InxGa1−xAs1−zPz/InyGa1−yP (x > y) and InxGa1−xP/InyGa1−yP (x > y) well/barrier combinations, lattice matched to GaAs in a p-i-n solar cell device. The bandgap of InxGa1−xAs1−zPz/InyGa1−yP can be tuned from 1.82 to 1.65 eV by adjusting the well composition and thickness, which promotes its use as an efficient subcell for next generation five and six junction photovoltaic devices. The thicknesses of wells and barriers are adjusted using a zero net stress balance model to prevent the formation of defects. Thin layers of InGaAsP wells have been grown thermodynamically stable with compositions within the miscibility gap for the bulk alloy. The growth conditions of the two SBMQWs and the individual layers are reported. The structures are characterized and analyzed by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, current-voltage characteristics, and spectral response (external quantum efficiency). The effect of the well number on the excitonic absorption of InGaAsP/InGaP SBMQWs is discussed and analyzed.

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InGaN templates have recently attracted interest due to their ability to reduce strain in the quantum wells and to induce a red shift in the emission wavelength. For such technology to be competitive, it should outperform the traditional technology for LEDs grown on GaN substrates and offer improved output characteristics. InGaN based LEDs on InyGa1−yN templates with varying In-content of 8% ≤ y ≤ 12% are studied for the same emission wavelength. The electroluminescence, optical output power, and external quantum efficiency of the LEDs are investigated as a function of the In-content in the templates. LEDs on InGaN templates with In-content of 8–10% show better performance than LEDs grown on GaN. This enhancement is attributed to improved radiative recombination as a result of the reduced strain in the quantum wells. However, templates with In-content of ∼10.5% and ∼11% show inferior performance to the LEDs on GaN because the deterioration from the increased defects from the template is stronger than the improvement in the radiative recombination. It can be concluded that the InGaN templates with 8–10% offer a technology for LEDs that is outperforming the traditional GaN technology.