Breakeven criteria for the GaInNAs junction in GaInP/GaAs/GaInNAs/Ge four‐junction solar cells

The four‐junction GaInP/GaAs/GaInNAs/Ge solar cell structure holds the promise of efficiencies exceeding those of the GaInP/GaAs/Ge three‐junction cell, which at present is the benchmark for high‐efficiency multijunction cell performance. The performance of GaInNAs junctions demonstrated to date has been insufficient for the realization of these projected efficiency gains, owing to poor minority‐carrier properties in the GaInNAs. However, incremental improvements in the GaInNAs junctions have brought this breakeven point within sight. In this paper, we use a semiempirical approach to estimate the efficiency of the GaInP/GaAs/GaInNAs/Ge four‐junction solar cell structure as a function of the performance parameters of the GaInNAs third junction. The results provide guidance on the extent to which the current and voltage of present‐day GaInNAs junctions will need to be improved in order for the resulting four‐junction cell to realize its potential for efficiencies higher than that of GaInP/GaAs/Ge benchmark. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wafer bonded four‐junction GaInP/GaAs//GaInAsP/GaInAs concentrator solar cells with 44.7% efficiency

Triple‐junction solar cells from III–V compound semiconductors have thus far delivered the highest solar‐electric conversion efficiencies. Increasing the number of junctions generally offers the potential to reach even higher efficiencies, but material quality and the choice of bandgap energies turn out to be even more importance than the number of junctions. Several four‐junction solar cell architectures with optimum bandgap combination are found for lattice‐mismatched III–V semiconductors as high bandgap materials predominantly possess smaller lattice constant than low bandgap materials. Direct wafer bonding offers a new opportunity to combine such mismatched materials through a permanent, electrically conductive and optically transparent interface. In this work, a GaAs‐based top tandem solar cell structure was bonded to an InP‐based bottom tandem cell with a difference in lattice constant of 3.7%. The result is a GaInP/GaAs//GaInAsP/GaInAs four‐junction solar cell with a new record efficiency of 44.7% at 297‐times concentration of the AM1.5d (ASTM G173‐03) spectrum. This work demonstrates a successful pathway for reaching highest conversion efficiencies with III–V multi‐junction solar cells having four and in the future even more junctions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

InGaP/GaAs‐based multijunction solar cells

The conversion efficiency of InGaP/(In)GaAs/Ge ‐based multijunction solar cells has been improved up to 29–30% (AM0) and 31–32% (AM1·5G) by technologies, such as double‐hetero wide band‐gap tunnel junctions, combination with Ge bottom cell with the InGaP first hetero‐growth layer, and precise lattice‐matching to Ge substrate by adding 1% indium to the conventional GaAs lattice‐match structure. Employing a 1·95 eV AlInGaP top cell should improve efficiency further. For space use, radiation resistance has been improved by technologies such as introducing of an electric field in the base layer of the lowest‐resistance middle cell, and EOL current matching of sub‐cells to the highest‐resistance top cell. A grid structure and cell size have been designed for concentrator applications in order to reduce the energy loss due to series resistance, and 38% (AM1·5G, 100–500 suns) efficiency has been demonstrated. Furthermore, thin‐film structure which is InGaP/GaAs dual junction cell on metal film has been newly developed. The thin‐film cell demonstrated high flexibility, lightweight, high efficiency of over 25% (AM0) and high radiation resistance. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of Ge junctions for GaInP/GaAs/Ge three‐junction solar cells†

We study Ge solar cells with epitaxial GaInP windows for application as the third junction of GaInP/GaAs/Ge three‐junction solar cells. We demonstrate Ge junctions with open‐circuit voltages above 230 mV, fill factors above 65%, and internal quantum efficiencies of ∼90%. By varying separately the base and emitter contributions to the junction dark current, we deduce the factors limiting the performance of this device, and we project the improvement to the device performance that may be obtainable if key limiting factors such as the emitter surface‐recombination velocity can be mitigated. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

n‐GaAs/InGaP/p‐GaAs Core‐Multishell Nanowire Diodes for Efficient Light‐to‐Current Conversion

Heterostructure n‐GaAs/InGaP/p‐GaAs core‐multishell nanowire diodes are synthesized by metal‐organic vapor‐phase epitaxy. This structure allows a reproducible, selective wet etching of the individual shells and therefore a simplified contacting of single nanowire p‐i‐n junctions. Nanowire diodes show leakage currents in a low pA range and at a high rectification ratio of 3500 (at ±1V). Pronounced electroluminescence at 1.4 eV is measured at room temperature and gives evidence of the device quality. Photocurrent generation is demonstrated at the complete area of the nanowire p‐i‐n junction by scanning photocurrent microscopy. A solar‐conversion efficiency of 4.7%, an open‐circuit voltage of 0.5 V and a fill factor of 52% are obtained under AM 1.5G conditions. These results will guide the development of nanowire‐based photonic and photovoltaic devices.     

分子束外延生长的GaAs/GaInP双结电池研究

We report the recent result of GaAs/GaInP dual-junction solar cells grown by all solid-state molecularbeamepitaxy(MBE).The device structure consists of a GaIn0.48P homojunction grown epitaxially upon a GaAs homojunction,with an interconnected GaAs tunnel junction.A photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 27% under the AM1.5 globe light intensity is realized for a GaAs/GaInP dual-junction solar cell,while the efficiencies of 26% and 16.6% are reached for a GaAs bottom cell and a GaInP top cell,respectively.The energy loss mechanism of our GaAs/GaInP tandem dual-junction solar cells is discussed.It is demonstrated that the MBE-grown phosphide-containing Ⅲ–V compound semiconductor solar cell is very promising for achieving high energy conversion efficiency.     

GaAs基GaInNAs太阳电池研究进展

在研究新型高效GaAs基三结和四结太阳电池过程中,研究者努力寻找一种既满足能隙约为1eV,同时又与GaAs衬底晶格匹配的半导体材料。通过调节组分,GaInNAs可同时满足上述两个特性,因此GaInNAs被认为是制备新型高效多结GaAs基太阳电池的理想材料。但实际上,制备高晶体质量GaInNAs材料十分困难,造成所制备的器件性能低下,未能达到实际要求。探讨了导致GaInNAs材料生长困难的机理,并对当前GaAs基GaInNAs太阳电池材料的研究历程和技术现状进行了概述。在此基础上,展望了GaInNAs技术的未来走向。     

Neural network‐based model for dual‐junction solar cells

Design and development of solar cells can be substantially improved by using models which can provide accurate estimation of complex device characteristics. The artificial neural network (NN)‐based models which learn from examples is an effective modeling technique that overcomes the deficiencies of conventional analytical techniques. In this paper, we propose NN‐based modeling techniques for estimation of behavior of dual‐junction (DJ) GaInP/GaAs solar cells involving complex phenomena, e.g., tunneling effect and complex interactions between the junctions. With extensive computer simulations we have compared performance of NN‐based models with that of a sophisticated device simulator, ATLAS form Silvaco. We have shown that the NN‐based models are able to estimate the solar cell characteristics close to that of the experimentally measured response. Compared with the response from ATLAS‐based models, the NN‐based models provide better results in estimation of tunneling phenomenon, determination of external quantum efficiency and I–V characteristics of DJ solar cells. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of temperature on luminescent coupling and material quality evaluation in inverted lattice‐matched and metamorphic multi‐junction solar cells

Inverted metamorphic multi‐junction solar cells have reached efficiencies close to 46%. These solar cells contain very high‐quality materials that exhibit strong luminescent coupling between the junctions. The presence of luminescent coupling has a significant impact on the behavior of multi‐junction solar cells affecting the optimal design of these devices. Because of the importance of studying devices under real operating conditions, the temperature dependence of the luminescent coupling is analyzed over a range of 25–120°C. Luminescent coupling analysis results show a reduction of the luminescent coupling current as a function of temperature in two tandem components of an inverted metamorphic triple junction solar cell such as GaInP/GaAs and GaAs/GaInAs solar cells. This reduction is quantified and examined by means of luminescent coupling analysis and modeling, electroluminescence measurements and optical modeling at the device and subcell level. The results of the models are verified and discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radiation resistance of MBE-grown GaInP/GaAs-based solar cells

Proton irradiation-based degradation characteristics for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) grown Ga_0·51In_0·49P/GaAs single-junction tandem solar cells of n/p configuration are reported. The cells were irradiated with 3-MeV protons up to fluences of 10¹³ cm⁻². The cells were characterized with current–voltage (I–V) measurements at AMO conditions, and with spectral measurements. The damage coefficient for the GaAs cells was calculated using numerical modelling by the PC-1D program, and the result was compared with the InP damage coefficient. By using the ‘displacement damage dose’ approach, the degradation characteristics were compared with the published data for InP and GaAs/Ge solar cells. In addition, these MBE results were compared with the radiation behavior of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)-grown Ga_0·51In_0·49P/GaAs single-, and double-junction solar cells of p/n configuration. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

GaAs/Ge heterojunction grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition and its application to high efficiency photovoltaic devices

We have studied the heteroepitaxial growth of GaAs on Ge substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Different growth conditions and substrate orientations were employed to examine the properties of GaAs grown upon Ge substrates, and in particular the GaAs/Ge interface. The interface properties were found to strongly depend on growth conditions. By small changes in the growth temperature, the GaAs/ Ge interface was altered from active to passive. Only a narrow temperature window (600 to 630° C) for the initial GaAs layer growth gave the passive-Ge junction together with good surface morphology. Accordingly, a high efficiency (19%, AMO) GaAs solar cell was grown by atmospheric pressure MOCVD on a Ge substrate without any junction in the Ge.     

InGaP//GaAs//c‐Si 3‐junction solar cells employing spectrum‐splitting system

In this work, we practically demonstrated spectrum‐splitting approach for advances in efficiency of photovoltaic cells. Firstly, a‐Si:H//c‐Si 2‐junction configuration was designed, which exhibited 24.4% efficiency with the spectrum splitting at 620 nm. Then, we improved the top cell property by employing InGaP cells instead of the a‐Si:H, resulting in an achievement of efficiency about 28.8%. In addition, we constructed 3‐junction spectrum‐splitting system with two optical splitters, and GaAs solar cells as middle cell. This InGaP//GaAs//c‐Si architecture was found to deliver 30.9% conversion efficiency. Our splitting system includes convex lenses for light concentration about 10 suns, which provided concentrated efficiency exceeding 33.0%. These results suggest that our demonstration of 3‐junction spectrum‐splitting approach can be a promising candidate for highly efficient photovoltaic technologies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

GaAs solar cells grown on Si substrates for space use

GaAs single‐junction and InGaP/GaAs multi‐junction thin‐film solar cells fabricated on Si substrates have great potential for high‐efficiency, low‐cost, lightweight and large‐area space solar cells. Heteroepitaxy of GaAs thin films on Si substrates has been examined and high‐efficiency GaAs thin‐film solar cells with total‐area efficiencies of 18·3% at AM0 and 20·0% at AM 1·5 on Si substrates (GaAs‐on‐Si solar cells) have been fabricated. In addition, 1‐MeV electron irradiation damage to GaAs‐on‐Si cells has been studied. The GaAs‐on‐Si cells are found to show higher end‐of‐life efficiency than the conventional GaAs cells fabricated on GaAs substrates (GaAs‐ on‐GaAs cells) under high‐fluence 1‐MeV electron irradiation of more than 1 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻². The first space flight to make use of them has been carried out. Forty‐eight 2 × 2 cm GaAs‐on‐Si cells with an average AM0 total‐area efficiency of 16·9% have been evaluated in the Engineering Test Satellite No.6 (ETS‐VI). The GaAs‐on‐Si cells have been demonstrated to be more radiation‐resistant in space than GaAs‐on‐GaAs cells and 50, 100 and 200‐μm‐thick Si cells. These results show that the GaAs‐on‐Si single‐junction and InGaP/GaAs‐on‐Si multi‐junction cells have great potential for space applications. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of low temperatures and intensities on GaAs and GaAs/Gesolar cells

GaAs and GaAs/Ge solar cells grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) were characterized at very low temperature (-185°C) and solar intensity (0.25 suns) to simulate the cell behavior in a severe interplanetary environment. A comparison is also made with GaAs cells grown with the liquid-phase-epitaxy (LPE) technique. The analysis carried out from -185 to +50°C shows, in particular, different behaviors for GaAs/Ge cells with active and passive Ge substrates; the GaAs/Ge passive cell behaves as a GaAs on GaAs cell, indicating that from the thermal and optical point of view, Ge acts only as a mechanical support. The GaAs cell with an active Ga substrate is affected by a notch in the I-V curves, which is more evident at low temperatures but reduces at low intensities. The GaAs/GaAs MOCVD cell shows the best performance at low temperature and intensity with a conversion efficiency of 27.2%     

Increasing the quantum efficiency of InAs/GaAs QD arrays for solar cells grown by MOVPE without using strain‐balance technology

Research into the formation of InAs quantum dots (QDs) in GaAs using the metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy technique is presented. This technique is deemed to be cheaper than the more often used and studied molecular beam epitaxy. The best conditions for obtaining a high photoluminescence response, indicating a good material quality, have been found among a wide range of possibilities. Solar cells with an excellent quantum efficiency have been obtained, with a sub‐bandgap photo‐response of 0.07 mA/cm² per QD layer, the highest achieved so far with the InAs/GaAs system, proving the potential of this technology to be able to increase the efficiency of lattice‐matched multi‐junction solar cells and contributing to a better understanding of QD technology toward the achievement of practical intermediate‐band solar cells. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high‐efficiency LPE GaAs solar cell at concentrations ranging from 2000 to 4000 suns

III–V solar cells for terrestrial concentration applications are currently becoming of greater and greater interest. From our experience, concentrations higher than 1000 suns are required with these cells to reduce PV electricity cost to such an extent that this alternative could become cost competitive. In this paper, a single‐junction p/n GaAs solar cell, with efficiencies of 23ċ8 and 22ċ5% at concentration ratios of 2700 and 3600 suns respectively, is presented. This GaAs solar cell is well suited for use with non‐imaging optical concentrators, which possess a large aperture angle. Low‐temperature liquid phase epitaxy (LTLPE) has been the growing technique for the semiconductor structure as an attempt to use a simplified, cheap and clean technique, within a renewable energy perspective. The GaAs solar cell presented is compared with the highest efficiency tandem solar cells at concentration levels exceeding 1000 suns. The GaAs solar cell performance maintains high efficiencies up to 4000 suns, while tandem cells seem to drop very quickly after reaching their maximum. Therefore, single‐junction GaAs solar cells are a good candidate for operating at very high concentrations, and LPE is able to supply these high‐quality solar cells to work within terrestrial concentration systems, the main objective of which is the reduction of PV electricity costs. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication and analysis of multijunction solar cells with a quantum dot (In)GaAs junction

InAs quantum dots (QDs) have been incorporated to bandgap engineer the (In)GaAs junction of (In)GaAs/Ge double‐junction solar cells and InGaP/(In)GaAs/Ge triple‐junction solar cells on 4‐in. wafers. One sun AM0 current–voltage measurement shows consistent performance across the wafer. Quantum efficiency analysis shows similar aforementioned bandgap performance of baseline and QD solar cells, whereas integrated sub‐band gap current of 10 InAs QD layers shows a gain of 0.20 mA/cm². Comparing QD double‐junction solar cells and QD triple‐junction solar cells to baseline structures shows that the (In)GaAs junction has a V_oc loss of 50 mV and the InGaP 70 mV. Transmission electron microscopy imaging does not reveal defective material and shows a buried QD density of 10¹¹ cm⁻², which is consistent with the density of QDs measured on the surface of a test structure. Although slightly lower in efficiency, the QD solar cells have uniform performance across 4‐in. wafers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Current transport studies of amorphous n/p junctions and its application in a‐Si:H/HIT‐type tandem cells

This paper presents an understanding of the fundamental carrier transport mechanism in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H)‐based n/p junctions. These n/p junctions are, then, used as tunneling and recombination junctions (TRJ) in tandem solar cells, which were constructed by stacking the a‐Si:H‐based solar cell on the heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) cell. First, the effect of activation energy (E_a) and Urbach parameter (E_u) of n‐type hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H(n)) on current transport in an a‐Si:H‐based n/p TRJ has been investigated. The photoluminescence spectra and temperature‐dependent current–voltage characteristics in dark condition indicates that the tunneling is the dominant carrier transport mechanism in our a‐Si:H‐based n/p‐type TRJ. The fabrication of a tandem cell structure consists of an a‐Si:H‐based top cell and an HIT‐type bottom cell with the a‐Si:H‐based n/p junction developed as a TRJ in between. The development of a‐Si:H‐based n/p junction as a TRJ leads to an improved a‐Si:H/HIT‐type tandem cell with a better open circuit voltage (V_oc), fill factor (FF), and efficiency. The improvements in the cell performance was attributed to the wider band‐tail states in the a‐Si:H(n) layer that helps to an enhanced tunneling and recombination process in the TRJ. The best photovoltage parameters of the tandem cell were found to be V_oc = 1430 mV, short circuit current density = 10.51 mA/cm², FF = 0.65, and efficiency = 9.75%. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of perimeter recombination in the subcells of GaInP/GaAs/Ge triple‐junction solar cells

This paper studies the recombination at the perimeter in the subcells that constitute a GaInP/GaAs/Ge lattice‐matched triple‐junction solar cell. For that, diodes of different sizes and consequently different perimeter/area ratios have been manufactured in single‐junction solar cells resembling the subcells in a triple‐junction solar cell. It has been found that neither in GaInP nor in Ge solar cells the recombination at the perimeter is significant in devices as small as 500 μm × 500μm(2.5 ⋅ 10 ^{− 3} cm²) in GaInP and 250μm × 250μm (6.25 ⋅ 10 ^{− 4}cm²) in Ge. However, in GaAs, the recombination at the perimeter is not negligible at low voltages even in devices as large as 1cm², and it is the main limiting recombination factor in the open circuit voltage even at high concentrations in solar cells of 250 μm × 250μm (6.25 ⋅ 10 ^{− 4} cm²) or smaller. Therefore, the recombination at the perimeter in GaAs should be taken into account when optimizing triple‐junction solar cells. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

AlGaAs/GaAs tunnel junctions in a 4-J tandem solar cell

TheⅢ-Ⅴcompound tandem solar cell is a third-generation new style solar cell with ultra-high efficiency. The energy band gaps of the sub-cells in a GaInP/GaAs/InGaAs/Ge 4-J tandem solar cell are 1.8,1.4,1.0 and 0.7 eV,respectively.In order to match the currents between sub-cells,tunnel junctions are used to connect the sub-cells.The characteristics of the tunnel junction,the material used in the tunnel junction,the compensation of the tunnel junction to the overall cell’s characteristics,the tunnel junction’s influence on the current density of sub-cells and the efficiency increase are discussed in the paper.An AlGaAs/GaAs tunnel junction is selected to simulate the cell’s overall characteristics by PC1D,current densities of 16.02,17.12,17.75 and 17.45 mA/cm² are observed,with a V_oc of 3.246 V,the energy conversion efficiency under AM0 is 33.9%.