Advancing solar energy conversion efficiency to 47.6% and exploring the spectral versatility of III-V photonic power converters

Henning Helmers; Oliver Höhn; David Lackner; Patrick Schygulla; Malte Klitzke; Jonas Schön; Carmine Pellegrino; Eduard Oliva; Michael Schachtner; Paul Beutel; Stefan Heckelmann; Felix Predan; Jens Ohlmann; Gerald Siefer; Frank Dimroth

doi:10.1117/12.3000352

8 March 2024 Advancing solar energy conversion efficiency to 47.6% and exploring the spectral versatility of III-V photonic power converters

Henning Helmers, Oliver Höhn, David Lackner, Patrick Schygulla, Malte Klitzke, Jonas Schön, Carmine Pellegrino, Eduard Oliva, Michael Schachtner, Paul Beutel, Stefan Heckelmann, Felix Predan, Jens Ohlmann, Gerald Siefer, Frank Dimroth

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12881, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices XIII; 1288103 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3000352
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

III-V compound semiconductors provide a high degree of flexibility in bandgap engineering and can be realized through epitaxial growth in high quality. This enables versatile spectral matching of photovoltaic absorber materials as well as the fabrication of complex layer structures of vertically stacked subcells and tunnel junctions. This work presents progress in two fields of applications of III-V photovoltaics: concentrator solar cells and photonic power converters. We present latest results in advancing solar energy conversion efficiencies to 47.6% based on a wafer-bonded four-junction concentrator solar cell. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the latest development results regarding photonic power converters, showcasing several record devices. We briefly introduce a new metallization technique using electro-plated silver for handling high currents and first 10-junction InGaAs devices for optical telecommunication wavelengths. Overall, this paper highlights the potential of III-V compound semiconductors in achieving high efficiencies and spectral matching, offering promising prospects for future applications.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

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Henning Helmers, Oliver Höhn, David Lackner, Patrick Schygulla, Malte Klitzke, Jonas Schön, Carmine Pellegrino, Eduard Oliva, Michael Schachtner, Paul Beutel, Stefan Heckelmann, Felix Predan, Jens Ohlmann, Gerald Siefer, and Frank Dimroth "Advancing solar energy conversion efficiency to 47.6% and exploring the spectral versatility of III-V photonic power converters", Proc. SPIE 12881, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices XIII, 1288103 (8 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3000352

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