On the ultra-miniaturization of concentrator solar cells

Vossier, Alexis; Hirsch, Baruch; Katz, Eugene A.; Gordon, Jeffrey M.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2010.12.053

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…It is commonly assumed in the literature that the “lumped” series resistance value is “light-intensity” independent 6 . Previous research showed that the illumination level to which the cells are submitted should be taken into account when designing concentrator solar cells: in such case, the “lumped” series resistance value was shown to be strongly correlated to the illumination level and its value appears to decrease significantly with increasing sunlight concentration 3 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, appropriate tailoring of the front grid design should be realized toward finding the optimal balance between grid and contact resistance, emitter sheet resistance, and shading associated with the front-contact grid 4 , 5 . Decreasing the cell dimensions can also lead to decreased series resistance losses, through a drop in the area-related contribution of the series resistance 3 , 6 . However, these strategies only allow a moderate improvement in the cell efficiency and the peak illumination level for which the maximum efficiency is achieved does not exceed 1000 suns 7 – 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Band Gap Engineering of Multi-Junction Solar Cells: Effects of Series Resistances and Solar Concentration

Zeitouny

Katz

Dollet

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Multi-junction (MJ) solar cells are one of the most promising technologies achieving high sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency. Resistive losses constitute one of the main underlying mechanisms limiting their efficiency under high illumination. In this paper, we study, by numerical modeling, the extent to which a fine-tuning of the different electronic gaps involved in MJ stacks may mitigate the detrimental effects of series resistance losses for concentration-dependent and independent series resistances. Our results demonstrate that appropriate bandgap engineering may lead to significantly higher conversion efficiency at illumination levels above ~1000 suns and series resistance values typically exceeding 0.02 Ω cm2, due to lower operating current and, in turn, series resistance losses. The implications for future generations of solar cells aiming at an improved conversion of the solar spectrum are also addressed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Band Gap Engineering of Multi-Junction Solar Cells: Effects of Series Resistances and Solar Concentration

Zeitouny

Katz

Dollet

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

Self Cite

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“…5,6 We focus on polycrystalline thin film Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) microcells. CIGS is currently the most efficient thin film solar cell material, 7 and efficiencies over 20% were achieved recently.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microscale solar cells for high concentration on polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films

Paire

Lombez

Péré‐Laperne

et al. 2011

Applied Physics Letters

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International audienceWe report high concentration experiments on polycrystalline thin ﬁlm solar cells. High level regime is reached, thanks to the micrometric scale of the Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 cells, which strongly decreases resistive losses. A 4% absolute efﬁciency increase is obtained at a concentration of x120, and current densities as high as 100 A/cm² can be measured. These results show that the use of polycrystalline thin ﬁlms under high concentration is possible, with important technological consequences

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“…28 All the diode parameters used in the simulation are extracted from absolute electroluminescence (EL) calibration 29 and fitting with the experimental result. Values of the resistances are taken from the literature 30 and modified to fit both the dark IV and the transport efficiency.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current transport efficiency analysis of multijunction solar cells by luminescence imaging

Delamarre

Jeco

et al. 2019

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Multijunction solar cells are currently leading in efficiency among all types of solar cells. However, the efficiency of those cells under concentrated illumination is limited by the trade‐off between shadowing by the contact grid and series resistances. In this paper, we provide a method using luminescence to image the current transport efficiency for a precise and rapid measurement of the resistance effect. Light beam induced current (LBIC) measurement is used for the first time to calculate current transport efficiency in comparison with that of the luminescence method. Profiles of transport efficiency in both means are in good agreement. Furthermore, a quasi‐3‐D simulation using SPICE is used to explain the transport efficiency image. We find that the carrier transport efficiency distribution is primarily influenced by the perimeter recombination of the middle cell.

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On the ultra-miniaturization of concentrator solar cells

Cited by 15 publications

References 14 publications

Band Gap Engineering of Multi-Junction Solar Cells: Effects of Series Resistances and Solar Concentration

Band Gap Engineering of Multi-Junction Solar Cells: Effects of Series Resistances and Solar Concentration

Microscale solar cells for high concentration on polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films

Current transport efficiency analysis of multijunction solar cells by luminescence imaging

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