Monolithic, two-terminal InP/Ga[sub 0. 47]In[sub 0. 53]As tandem solar cells
Monolithic InP/Ga[sub 0.7]In[sub 0.53]As tandem solar cells have been studied extensively in our laboratory over the last 4 years. Using the three-terminal approach, the tandem cell performance progressed rapidly, and improvements in the epitaxial growth and device processing procedures eventually led to a terrestrial concentrator tandem cell efficiency of 31.8%. Recently, our research has been directed towards the development of two-terminal (i.e., series-connected) monolithic InP/Ga[sub 0.47]In[sub 0.53]As tandem cells. Two-terminal tandem cells are desirable because they can he substituted directly for single-junction solar cells in photovoltaic module circuits that are being manufactured presently. Furthermore, in principle, two-terminal tandems should take less time to grow and process than three-terminal tandems, which would lead to reduced cell manufacturing costs. The data obtained from our previous study of three-terminal InP/Ga[sub 0.47]In[sub 0.53]As tandem cells have shown that the potential performance of two-terminal InP/Ga[sub 0.47]In[sub 0.53]As cells is quite high. Two fundamental problems must be addressed to realize high-performance, two-terminal cells. First, an ohmic electrical interconnect between the top and bottom subcells must be integrated into the monolithic structure to connect the subcells in series. The optical and joule losses in the interconnect should be negligible compared to the tandem cell output. Second, because the subcells are connected in series, techniques for matching the subcell photocurrents and maximizing the tandem cell photocurrent, under relevant solar spectra, are necessary to achieve the highest tandem cell efficiency. In this paper, we describe preliminary progress towards solving these problems and outline directions for future work.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 6418081
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9304151-1; ON: DE93014037
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CONFIGURATION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EPITAXY
EQUIPMENT
ETCHING
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM PHOSPHIDE SOLAR CELLS
INDIUM PHOSPHIDES
PERFORMANCE
PHOSPHIDES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PNICTIDES
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE FINISHING
TESTING