Recent advances in high‐efficiency<i>III</i>–<i>V</i>multi‐junction solar cells for space applications: ultra triple junction qualification

Yoon, Hyoseok; Granata, Jennifer E; Hébert, Peter; King, Richard R.; Fetzer, C. M.; Colter, P. C.; Edmondson, K.; Law, D. C.; Kinsey, Geoffrey S.; Krut, D.D.; Ermer, J.; Gillanders, M.; Karam, N.H.

doi:10.1002/pip.610

Cited by 33 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Jackson first pointed out how splitting sunlight into spectral bands could improve photovoltaic performance in 1955. Two different spectrum splitting approaches have been demonstrated in earlier work . As in Figure a, dichroic filters can reflect sunlight of energy above the solar cell response threshold onto a target cell while transmitting the rest to the next filter, where the splitting is repeated .…”

Section: Spectrum Splitting Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

40% efficient sunlight to electricity conversion

Green

Keevers

Thomas³

et al. 2015

Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl.

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Increasing sunlight conversion efficiency is a key driver for on-going solar electricity cost reduction. For photovoltaic conversion, the approach most successful in increasing conversion efficiency is to split sunlight into spectral bands and direct each band to a dedicated solar cell of an appropriate energy bandgap to convert this band efficiently. In this work, we demonstrate conversion of sunlight to electricity in a solar collector with an efficiency value above 40% for the first time, using a small 287-cm 2 aperture area test stand, notably equipped with commercial concentrator solar cells. We use optical bandpass filtering to capture energy that is normally wasted by commercial GaInP/GaInAs/Ge triple junction cells and convert this normally wasted energy using a separate Si cell with higher efficiency than physically possible in the original device. The 287-cm 2 aperture area sunlight-concentrating converter demonstrating this independently confirmed efficiency is a prototype for a large photovoltaic power tower system, where sunlight is reflected from a field of sun-tracking heliostats to a dense photovoltaic array mounted on a central tower. In such systems, improved efficiency not only reduces costs by increasing energy output for a given investment in heliostats and towers but also reduces unwanted heat generation at the central tower.

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Section: Spectrum Splitting Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

40% efficient sunlight to electricity conversion

Green

Keevers

Thomas³

et al. 2015

Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl.

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“…Multi-junction solar cells for one-sun applications, hereafter referred to as flat-plate multijunction solar cells, offer one path to improving state-of-the-art efficiencies. Due to their high fabrication costs, multi-junction solar cells are currently mainly used in space [9] or for terrestrial concentrators, where they have achieved 46.1% efficiency [10]. A continued reduction in fabrication cost [11,12] and capex [4] could result in flat-plate multijunction solar cells becoming economically viable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The GaAs/GaAs/Si solar cell – Towards current matching in an integrated two terminal tandem

Ren

Liu

et al. 2017

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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Non-concentrating tandem solar cells offer the potential to increase conversion efficiencies beyond 30%. Of particular interest are configurations with a silicon bottom cell-to leverage existing manufacturing infrastructure-and III-V compound semiconductor top cells to combine high efficiencies with long-term stability and experience in applications. In this work we investigate the GaAs/GaAs/Si triple-junction architecture. GaAs and Si form a non-ideal bandgap combination, which poses a challenge to the current matching requirement. As band-to-band absorption in GaAs is almost two thirds of that in Si, absorption can be balanced by replacing the GaAs top junction with a GaAs/GaAs double junction. This opens up a possibility for an integrated two terminal solar cell for the GaAs-Si material system. In this study, we numerically evaluate the efficiency and energy yield potential of the GaAs/GaAs/Si triple-junction architecture. We find that, with state-of-the-art material quality, the GaAs/GaAs/Si architecture has the potential to achieve 33.0% efficiency, and harvesting efficiencies between 31.4% and 32.1%. We fabricated a GaAs/GaAs/Si four-terminal tandem solar cell with a mathematically combined efficiency of 20.4%.

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“…As high-efficiency multijunction solar cell (MJSC) technologies achieve record efficiencies [1,2], the complexity of the internal structure and inner workings of the cells also reach new levels. A suite of opto-electronic characterization techniques has been used in the past to explore the various characteristics of these cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequency response of the external quantum efficiency in multijunction solar cells

Peraca¹,

Bilir²,

Hamadani³

2017

Opt. Express

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The frequency dependence of the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of high-quality multijunction solar cells was examined by the modulated photocurrent spectroscopy method via an optical setup comprised of a light-pipe-coupled compact LED array. The optical excitation was achieved through sinusoidal electrical modulation of an appropriate LED by a custom-designed, high bandwidth amplifier. We observed unique features in the amplitude and phase data of the EQE frequency sweeps that are very sensitive to various subcell parameters and light bias conditions. These features are discussed extensively within the context of an AC equivalent circuit model, showing remarkable agreement between the experimental data and the proposed model.

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Recent advances in high‐efficiencyIII–Vmulti‐junction solar cells for space applications: ultra triple junction qualification

Cited by 33 publications

References 4 publications

40% efficient sunlight to electricity conversion

40% efficient sunlight to electricity conversion

The GaAs/GaAs/Si solar cell – Towards current matching in an integrated two terminal tandem

Frequency response of the external quantum efficiency in multijunction solar cells

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