A performance comparison between GaInP-on-Si and GaAs-on-Si 3-terminal tandem solar cells

VanSant, Kaitlyn T.; Warren, Emily L.; Geisz, John F.; Klein, Talysa R.; Johnston, Steve W.; McMahon, William E.; Schulte-Huxel, Henning; Rienäcker, Michael; Peibst, Robby; Tamboli, Adele C.

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.104950

Title: A performance comparison between GaInP-on-Si and GaAs-on-Si 3-terminal tandem solar cells

Journal Article · Fri Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · iScience

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104950· OSTI ID:1886270

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^[2]; Klein, Talysa R. ^[2]; Johnston, Steve W. ^[2];

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^[3]; Rienäcker, Michael ^[3]; Peibst, Robby ^[3];

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Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Institute for Solar Energy Research, Hamelin (Germany)
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)

The pursuit of ever-higher solar cell efficiencies has focused heavily on multijunction technologies. In tandem cells, subcells are typically either contacted via two terminals (2T) or four terminals (4T). Simulations show that the less-common three-terminal (3T) design may be comparable to 4T tandem cells in its compatibility with a range of materials, operating conditions, and methods for subcell integration, yet the 3T design circumvents shading losses of the 4T intermediate conductive layers. This study analyzes the performance of two superstrate 3T III-V-on-Si (III-V//Si) tandem cells: One has slightly greater current contribution from the Si bottom cell (GaInP//Si) and the other has substantially greater current contribution from the GaAs top cell (GaAs//Si). Our results show that both tandem cells exhibit the same efficiency (21.3%), thereby demonstrating that the third terminal allows for flexibility in the selection of the top cell material, similar to the 4T design.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1886270

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5K00-76819; MainId:10463; UUID:57e92f65-61a0-469a-90ed-909130865534; MainAdminID:65262

Journal Information:: iScience, Vol. 25, Issue 9; ISSN 2589-0042

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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multijunction
solar cell efficiencies
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three terminals

Title: A performance comparison between GaInP-on-Si and GaAs-on-Si 3-terminal tandem solar cells

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