Proposal for superstructure based high efficiency photovoltaics

Journal Article · Mon Oct 06 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.97525· OSTI ID:5172629

Wagner, M; Leburton, J P

A novel class of cascade structures is proposed which features multijunction upper subcells. These will be referred to as superstructure high efficiency photovoltaics (SHEP). The additional junctions enhance spectral response and improve radiation tolerance by reducing bulk recombination losses. This is important because ternary III-V alloys, which tend to have short minority-carrier diffusion lengths, are the only viable materials for the high band-gap upper subcells required for cascade solar cells. Realistic simulations of AlGaAs SHEP's show that one sun AM0 efficiencies in excess of 26% are possible.

• Research Organization: University of Illinois, Coordinated Science Laboratory and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Urbana, Illinois 61801
• OSTI ID: 5172629
• Journal Information: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 49:14; ISSN APPLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
DATA
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
PNICTIDES
RECOMBINATION
THEORETICAL DATA