A record setting amorphous silicon alloy triple-junction solar cell with 14.6{percent} initial and 12.8{percent} stable efficiencies

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.52841· OSTI ID:552816

Yang, J; Banerjee, A; Guha, S ^[1]

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1. United Solar Systems Corp., Troy, Michigan 48084 (United States)

World record 14.6{percent} initial and 12.8{percent} stable conversion efficiencies have been achieved using amorphous silicon based alloy in a spectrum-splitting, triple-junction structure. This performance exceeds our previous record of 13.2{percent} initial and 11.8{percent} stable efficiencies and establishes a new milestone toward reaching the 15{percent} stable module goal. Key factors leading to this major advance include: (a) Improvement in the low bandgap amorphous silicon-germanium component cell that resulted in enhanced red response and provided desired current mismatching, (b) improvement in the pn tunnel junction between component cells by incorporating microcrystalline p and n layers in a multilayered structure that resulted in reduced optical and electrical losses, and (c) improvement in the top conducting oxide that resulted in reduced absorption and enhanced blue response without increasing the top cell thickness. Details of these advances along with light-soaking data for high efficiency cells will be discussed. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 552816
• Report Number(s): CONF-961178--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 394; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SILICON
SILICON ALLOYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION