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Title: Single P-N junction tandem photovoltaic device

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1028778

A single P-N junction solar cell is provided having two depletion regions for charge separation while allowing the electrons and holes to recombine such that the voltages associated with both depletion regions of the solar cell will add together. The single p-n junction solar cell includes an alloy of either InGaN or InAlN formed on one side of the P-N junction with Si formed on the other side in order to produce characteristics of a two junction (2J) tandem solar cell through only a single P-N junction. A single P-N junction solar cell having tandem solar cell characteristics will achieve power conversion efficiencies exceeding 30%.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
Assignee:
RoseStreet Labs Energy, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ)
Patent Number(s):
8,039,740
Application Number:
11/777,963
OSTI ID:
1028778
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (24)

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Projected performance of three- and four-junction devices using GaAs and GaInP conference January 1997
Multicolor Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Semiconductor Nanocrystals Encapsulated in GaN Charge Injection Layers journal June 2005
In 1− x Ga x As‐GaSb 1− y As y heterojunctions by molecular beam epitaxy journal August 1977
Superior radiation resistance of In1−xGaxN alloys: Full-solar-spectrum photovoltaic material system journal November 2003
Design, Growth, Fabrication and Characterization of High-Band Gap InGaN/GaN Solar Cells conference May 2006
n ‐indium tin oxide/ p ‐indium phosphide solar cells journal June 1977
Small band gap bowing in In1−xGaxN alloys journal June 2002

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