An experimental and theoretical study on the temperature dependence of GaAs solar cells

Abstract

In this paper the temperature-dependent behavior of GaAs single-junction solar cells is studied using both experimental and simulation tools. A cryostat is used to allow measurements of the external quantum efficiency (EQE) and IV curve at different temperatures with the corresponding experimental setup at Fraunhofer ISE. Two different GaAs single-junction solar cell structures are characterized in a wide temperature range between 203 K and 398 K. Through numerical modeling of the GaAs solar cells in a semiconductor simulation environment a deeper understanding of the cells' temperature-dependent behavior is obtained. A good correlation between measurement and simulation results is achieved

Modeling lattice-matched InP-based multijunction solar cells

“…The calculated output parameters are nearly in agreement with the experimental data [15] as seen in Table 1. Optical parameters (n-k parameters) and electrical properties of GaAs are taken from [22].…”

“…Current-voltage (J − V OU T ) characteristics and external quantum efficiency (EQE ) curves under an AM1.5 spectrum for one sun concentration are calculated. Obtained results were in agreement with experimental data for single junction GaAs solar cells [15]. Then the model is improved for calculating the output characteristics of multijunction solar cell.…”

“…The model is applied to the GaAs single junction solar cell given in [15]. The calculated output parameters are nearly in agreement with the experimental data [15] as seen in Table 1. Optical parameters (n-k parameters)…”

Reliable and lightning‐safe monitoring of wind turbine rotor blades using optically powered sensors

“…For a constant temperature, the efficiency increases with increasing incident optical power P opt , because an increasing photocurrent I ph results in an increased open‐circuit voltage V OC ≈ mV T ln( I ph / I s ) for I = 0. With higher junction temperature T j , the maximum efficiency of the LPC is reduced . This effect predominantly originates from the increasing saturation current I s , leading to reduced output voltages.…”

“…An example: For an intensity of (1050 suns = 1050 kW m −2 ), simulated with an equivalent forward current at a junction temperature of 80°C, a 1% failure probability is predicted after an operating time of t F,1 % (80 ° C) = 10.7 years. The criterion for a failed solar cell is a power drop of 2.5 % at a nominal efficiency of 20 %. This conservative failure threshold was chosen, because the study takes into account only the degradation of the solar cell itself, but not of the entire module.…”