Tunnel-Junction-Limited Multijunction Solar Cell Performance Over Concentration

Walker, Alexandre W.; Theriault, Olivier; Wilkins, Matthew M.; Wheeldon, Jeffrey F.; Hinzer, Karin

doi:10.1109/jstqe.2013.2258140

Cited by 32 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The simulations are performed using a linear grid with 5% grid-line shading on a 1 cm 2 cell area. Details on the set-up of the drift-diffusion simulations can be obtained elsewhere [19,20].…”

Section: Cpv System Modeling and Simulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrating optical system optimization for 3- and 4-junction solar cells: impact of illumination profiles

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Optical component designs for concentrating photovoltaic systems with three different multijunction solar cells are optimized to yield maximum system efficiencies under standard test conditions, specifically uniform illumination. Optimization uses an integrated optoelectrical approach with ray tracing of the optical train to generate an irradiance profile for input to the cell's distributed circuit model. These cells, a three-junction lattice-matched (3JLM) solar cell, a three-junction lattice-mismatched inverted metamorphic (3JIMM) solar cell, and a four-junction lattice-matched (4JLM) solar cell, were individually designed for maximum efficiency at 1000X. The optical train introduces losses, modifies the spectrum, and produces a spatially nonuniform profile across the cell. We decouple spectral modification from spatial nonuniformity to separately determine their individual impacts on system efficiencies, finding the optimal set of optical design parameters for each case. Spectral modification yields modest loss penalties (from 1.0 to 1.6%, relative to the MJSC), but the impact of nonuniformity is more significant and cell dependent, with relative loss penalties of 1.1, 3.8 and 2.3%, for 3JLM, 3JIMM and 4JLM, respectively. While spectral modification does not significantly impact design parameters, spatial nonuniformity does, with absolute losses of 1 and 3.4% if 3JIMM and 4JLM cells are used in a 3JLM optimized system.

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Section: Cpv System Modeling and Simulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrating optical system optimization for 3- and 4-junction solar cells: impact of illumination profiles

et al. 2017

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“…It is also necessary to take into account low-resistance metal contacts for obtaining a high-efficiency solar cell. There are several possibilities to connect the different p-n junctions, but one of the most efficient methods is to use a tunnel junction with very low resistance and very thin layers to decrease, as much as possible, the absorbed light in these layers [28]. In addition to all of the previously mentioned factors, one should not overlook the importance of the semiconductor materials and the thickness of the various subcells as part of the design.…”

Section: Overview Of Mj Concentrator Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multijunction Concentrator Solar Cells: Analysis and Fundamentals

Férnández

García‐Loureiro

Smestad

2015

High Concentrator Photovoltaics

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Multijunction (MJ) concentrator solar cells are primarily constructed of III-V semiconductor materials. The high solar-conversion efficiencies of these devices are dependent on precise control of growth conditions using one of several techniques such as molecular beam epitaxy, metal organic chemical vapour, or metal organic vapour-phase epitaxy deposition. The use of several junctions in an MJ tandem stack allows these devices to achieve efficiencies that are not possible for single-junction devices. Their behaviour is consequently complex, but it can be understood through an examination of the external quantum efficiency and the temperature dependence of each cell in the stack. This chapter lays out a systematic approach for understanding the spectral and temperature dependence of the overall MJ device by way of consideration of its component subcells. The efficiency of the cell as a function of temperature and concentration is described for both lattice-matched and metamorphic triple-junction (TJ) solar cells. The electrical characteristics and current-voltage curves are described from these considerations, and the performance of MJ solar cells under real operating conditions are then presented by considering a term describing the overall thermal factor and another term for the spectral factor. These terms can be understood from the background presented in the previous sections. Finally, the power output for the complete cell incorporated into a Fresnel lens based high-concentration photovoltaic system is presented for a particular geographic location using meteorological data.

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“…Solver Coupled to Photon Recycling Sentaurus Device by Synopsys (vG-2013.06, Mountain View, California, USA) has shown promise in simulating tunnel junctions [14,15] as well as multi-junction devices [16][17][18], including a recent investigation of incorporating photon recycling within the solver itself [19]. The numerical solver adopts a box discretization method to discretize the partial differential equations governing semiconductor transport, and utilizes the transfer matrix method to solve the optical component of the problem.…”

Section: Numerical Model and Structural Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of photon recycling and luminescence coupling in III-V photovoltaic devices

et al. 2015

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Single junction photovoltaic devices composed of direct bandgap III-V semiconductors such as GaAs can exploit the effects of photon recycling to achieve record-high open circuit voltages. Modeling such devices yields insight into the design and material criteria required to achieve high efficiencies. For a GaAs cell to reach 28 % efficiency without a substrate, the Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) lifetimes of the electrons and holes must be longer than 3 s and 100 ns respectively in a 2 m thin active region coupled to a very high reflective (>99%) rear-side mirror. The model is generalized to account for luminescence coupling in tandem devices, which yields direct insight into the top cell's non-radiative lifetimes. A heavily current mismatched GaAs/GaAs tandem device is simulated and measured experimentally as a function of concentration between 3 and 100 suns. The luminescence coupling increases from 14 % to 33 % experimentally, whereas the model requires an increasing SRH lifetime for both electrons and holes to explain these experimental results. However, intermediate absorbing GaAs layers between the two sub-cells may also increasingly contribute to the luminescence coupling as a function of concentration.

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Tunnel-Junction-Limited Multijunction Solar Cell Performance Over Concentration

Cited by 32 publications

References 23 publications

Concentrating optical system optimization for 3- and 4-junction solar cells: impact of illumination profiles

Concentrating optical system optimization for 3- and 4-junction solar cells: impact of illumination profiles

Multijunction Concentrator Solar Cells: Analysis and Fundamentals

Impact of photon recycling and luminescence coupling in III-V photovoltaic devices

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