Efficient Multijunction Monolithic Cascade Solar Cells

C. R. Lewis; C. W. Ford; G. F. Virshup; H. F. MacMillan; R. T. Green; B. A. Arau; J. G. Werthen

doi:10.1117/12.937224

20 November 1986 Efficient Multijunction Monolithic Cascade Solar Cells

C. R. Lewis, C. W. Ford, G. F. Virshup, H. F. MacMillan, R. T. Green, B. A. Arau, J. G. Werthen

Proceedings Volume 0706, Photovoltaics for Commercial Solar Power Applications; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.937224
Event: Cambridge Symposium-Fiber/LASE '86, 1986, Cambridge, MA, United States

Abstract

Efficient two-junction monolithic cascade solar cells have been fabricated in two dif-ferent III-V materials systems. The cells are grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposi-tion (MOCVD). Two-junction efficiencies as high as 25% (1-sun, AM2) are projected from the individual GaInAs (1.15 eV) and A1GaAs (1.72 to 1.75 eV) subcell efficiencies obtained in a cascade configuration. Factors influencing actual cascade efficiency and reproducibility are discussed. Metal interconnection of the AlGaAs and GaInAs subcells during post-growth processing yields two-terminal cascades with power conversion efficiencies (n) as high as 13.6% at 1-sun, airmass two (AM2) , and 11.1% at 1-sun, airmass zero (AMO). Three-terminal AlGaAs (1.72 eV)/GaInAs (1.15 eV) cascades have shown 11 of 12.6% (1-sun, AMO). Alternatively, insertion of a novel high-conductance junction between the cascade subcells during the MOCVD growth of the structure reduces the complexity of processing to that required of a single-junction cell. Voltage addition has been demonstrated, with n of 10.0% (1-sun, AM2) in the AlGaAs (1.72 eV)/GaInAs (1.15 eV) system. The A1GaAs (1.72 eV)/GaAs lattice-matched pair allows demonstration of proof-of-concept structures; tunnel-junction-connected A1GaAs (1.72 eV)/ GaAs cascades show n as high as 13.9% at 1-sun, AM2, and three-terminal, two-junction A1GaAs (1.72 eV)/GaAs (1.42 eV) systems as high as 23.0% at 1-sun, AM2.

Citation Download Citation

C. R. Lewis, C. W. Ford, G. F. Virshup, H. F. MacMillan, R. T. Green, B. A. Arau, and J. G. Werthen "Efficient Multijunction Monolithic Cascade Solar Cells", Proc. SPIE 0706, Photovoltaics for Commercial Solar Power Applications, (20 November 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.937224

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