Research on Stable, High-Efficiency Amorphous Silicon Multijunction Modules, Annual Subcontract Report, 1 January 1991 - 31 December 1991

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5463162· OSTI ID:5463162

Banerjee, A.; Chen, E.; Clough, R.; Glatfelter, T.; Guha, S.; Hammond, G.; Hopson, M.; Jackett, N.; Lycette, M.; Noch, J.

This report describes the progress made during Phase 1 of research and development program to obtain high-efficiency amorphous silicon alloy multijunction modules. Using a large-area deposition system, double-and triple-junction cells were made on stainless steel substrates of over 1 ft{sup 2} area with Ag and ZnO predeposited back reflector. Modules of over 1 ft{sup 2} were produced with between 9.2% and 9.9 initial aperture-area efficiencies as measured under a USSC Spire solar simulator. Efficiencies as measured under the NREL Spire solar simulator were found to be typically 15% to 18% lower. The causes for this discrepancy are now being investigated. The modules show about 15% degradation after 600 hours of one-sun illumination at 50{degrees}C. To optimize devices for higher stabilized efficiency, a new method was developed by which the performance of single-junction cells after long-term, one-sun exposure at 50{degrees}C can be predicted by exposing cells to short-term intense light at different temperatures. This method is being used to optimize the component cells of the multijunction structure to obtain the highest light-degraded efficiency.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 5463162
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-411-4840; ON: DE92001244
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
360101 -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ALLOYS
AMORPHOUS STATE
CHALCOGENIDES
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
GERMANIUM ALLOYS
GERMANIUM BASE ALLOYS
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LAYERS
MATERIALS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PROGRESS REPORT
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SILICON ALLOYS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SILVER
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
SUBSTRATES
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES
amorphous silicon
high efficiency
modules
multijunction
photovoltaics
solar cells