Quantum wells in multiple junction photovoltaics

Thomas N. D. Tibbits; Matthew P. Lumb; Alison Dobbin

doi:10.1117/12.880599

21 February 2011 Quantum wells in multiple junction photovoltaics

Thomas N. D. Tibbits, Matthew P. Lumb, Alison Dobbin

Proceedings Volume 7933, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XIX; 793303 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.880599
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2011, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Triple-junction (3J) solar cells are the world's most efficient photovoltaic conversion devices, hero cells operating >41% under concentration between 300 and 500 suns. The typical 3J approach has a bandgap combination that limits the cell efficiency at approximately 49%. Different combinations of bandgaps can increase the theoretical efficiency to closer to 60%, and use of metamorphic materials has attempted to demonstrate still higher efficiencies. Multiple quantum wells (MQW) can also be used to fabricate materials with different effective bandgaps from the host semiconductor, and can do so without the attendant lattice constant change and dislocations associated with metamorphics. We show that sufficiently high absorption in MQWs increases the efficiency of 3J solar cells without incorporating defects during epitaxy, both in simulations and in practice.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas N. D. Tibbits, Matthew P. Lumb, and Alison Dobbin "Quantum wells in multiple junction photovoltaics", Proc. SPIE 7933, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XIX, 793303 (21 February 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.880599

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