Optimization of Three-Terminal Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells

Abstract

We use simulations to optimize perovskite / silicon tandem solar cells in a novel three-terminal configuration, with one terminal at the front and two at the rear. We consider configurations in which the top cell has either the inverted or the same polarity as the bottom cell. Our goal is to minimize the optical losses, to compare the performance of both configurations and to determine the realistically achievable efficiency. Optical simulations show that if the hole transporting material is in front of the perovskite it gives rise to parasitic absorption losses. If it is behind the perovskite, these losses are avoided, however at the cost of increased reflection losses. We systematically minimize these reflection losses. This increases the tandem's total implied photocurrent density from 34.4 to 41.1 mA/cm 2 . To determine the corresponding power conversion efficiency of these three-terminal tandems, electrical circuit simulations are performed based on existing 22.7% efficient perovskite and 24.9% efficient silicon cells. These simulations show that tandem efficiencies up to 32.0% can be obtained.

Energy Yield Advantages of Three-Terminal Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Photovoltaics

“…This configuration exhibits the advantages of minimizing resistive losses, contrary to transistor-like configurations, thanks to a lower current flowing through the Z contact, while also preventing lateral transport of carriers. The choice of a SHJ IBC bottom cell was dictated by the high performance of this type of cell, being the record holder for PCE of c-Si SJ, 6 while also being used in the first publications about modeling 19 and fabrication 22 of perovskite-silicon 3T tandem solar cells. The n-type SHJ IBC bottom cell comprises two electrical contacts on the rear side, one being selective to electrons (Z contact), the other to holes (R contact).…”

“…The RT and RZ circuits are electrically interdependent, therefore the MPP tracking system needs to take into account the operation points of both circuits (see Figure S2 to visualize the operating conditions of the 3T architecture). An alternative electrical circuit in the common Z configuration, which has been reported already by Santbergen et al, 19 can be used to describe the 3T architecture. The latter circuit, depicted in Figure 1G, is equivalent from the point of view of total power generation to the circuit proposed in this work, assuming the same electrical parameters.…”

“…Santbergen et al 19 published an optical modeling study for 3T perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, which does not contain EY-modeling results or comparisons with other tandem architectures. EY simulations for various double-junction tandem architectures, including 3T perovskite-silicon tandems, have already been performed by Liu et al, 26 by modeling external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of real devices from different publications.…”

Perovskite‐Based Tandem Solar Cells: Get the Most Out of the Sun

“…To facilitate or simplify the accurate characterization of monolithic 2T TSCs and circumvent the spectral mismatch issue, researchers designed a three-terminal monolithic tandem configuration and showed precise measurement results. [99][100][101][102]…”

Comparing optical performance of a wide range of perovskite/silicon tandem architectures under real-world conditions

“…Such design optimization can be performed by optical and electrical simulations. Researchers in the past have focussed on the optical simulations of perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cells with mostly silicon heterojunction c-Si solar cells [19,[45][46][47]. However, not much research is done regarding the optical simulations of perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cells with high temperature CSPCs.…”