General design considerations for making optimal use of new photovoltaic materials

S. P. Bremner; C. Yi; I. Almansouri; A. Ho-Baillie; M. A. Green

doi:10.1109/PVSC.2015.7355696

General design considerations for making optimal use of new photovoltaic materials

S. P. Bremner, C. Yi, I. Almansouri, A. Ho-Baillie, M. A. Green

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The search for ever higher conversion efficiencies for photovoltaic devices is leading to the investigation of a number of novel materials combinations for the realization of multi-junction solar cells. We have used the detailed balance approach to analyze the optimum use of band gaps in a multi-junction device of up to 6 sub-cells. The results suggest that as the number of sub-cells increases the importance of the bottom most band gap becomes less critical, assuming the optimum band gap combination for that value can be obtained. Given this greater freedom in choice, the potential for the use of silicon as an active substrate is investigated along with a cell thinning 'current sharing' approach to improve current mismatch in the device. Results show a more robust design space of multi-junctions with active silicon substrates when the current sharing approach is used, with performances close to the optimum for a completely free choice of band gaps.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)
Place of Publication	Piscataway, NJ
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479979448, 9781479979431
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7355696
Publication status	Published - 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 - New Orleans, United States Duration: 14 Jun 2015 → 19 Jun 2015

Conference

Conference	42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	New Orleans
Period	14/06/15 → 19/06/15

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10.1109/PVSC.2015.7355696

Cite this

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title = "General design considerations for making optimal use of new photovoltaic materials",

abstract = "The search for ever higher conversion efficiencies for photovoltaic devices is leading to the investigation of a number of novel materials combinations for the realization of multi-junction solar cells. We have used the detailed balance approach to analyze the optimum use of band gaps in a multi-junction device of up to 6 sub-cells. The results suggest that as the number of sub-cells increases the importance of the bottom most band gap becomes less critical, assuming the optimum band gap combination for that value can be obtained. Given this greater freedom in choice, the potential for the use of silicon as an active substrate is investigated along with a cell thinning 'current sharing' approach to improve current mismatch in the device. Results show a more robust design space of multi-junctions with active silicon substrates when the current sharing approach is used, with performances close to the optimum for a completely free choice of band gaps.",

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booktitle = "2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)",

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note = "42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 ; Conference date: 14-06-2015 Through 19-06-2015",

}

Bremner, SP, Yi, C, Almansouri, I, Ho-Baillie, A & Green, MA 2015, General design considerations for making optimal use of new photovoltaic materials. in 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Piscataway, NJ, 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015, New Orleans, United States, 14/06/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7355696

General design considerations for making optimal use of new photovoltaic materials. / Bremner, S. P.; Yi, C.; Almansouri, I. et al.
2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC). Piscataway, NJ: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2015.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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General design considerations for making optimal use of new photovoltaic materials

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