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Results for “CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Device characterization for design optimization of 4 junction inverted metamorphic concentrator solar cells

Quantitative electroluminescence (EL) and luminescent coupling (LC) analysis, along with more conventional characterization techniques, are combined to completely characterize the subcell JV curves within a fourjunction (4J) inverted metamorphic solar cell (IMM). The 4J performance under arbitrary spectral conditions can be predicted from these subcell JV curves. The internal radiative efficiency (IRE) of each junction has been determined as a function of current density from the external radiative efficiency using optical modeling, but this required the accurate determination of the individual junction current densities during the EL measurement as affected by LC. These measurement and analysis techniques can be applied to any multijunction solar cell. The 4J IMM solar cell used to illustrate these techniques showed excellent junction quality as exhibited by high IRE and a one-sun AM1.5D efficiency of 36.3%. This device operates up to 1000 suns without limitations due to any of the three tunnel junctions.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Pathway to 50% Efficient Inverted Metamorphic Concentrator Solar Cells

Series-connected five (5J) and six junction (6J) concentrator solar cell strategies have the realistic potential to exceed 50% efficiency to enable low-cost CPV systems. We propose three strategies for developing a practical 6J device. We have overcome many of the challenges required to build such concentrator solar cell devices: We have developed 2.1 eV AlGaInP, 1.7 eV AlGaAs, and 1.7 eV GaInAsP junctions with external radiative efficiency greater than 0.1%. We have developed a transparent tunnel junction that absorbs minimal light intended for the second junction yet resists degradation under thermal load. We have developed metamorphic grades from the GaAs to the InP lattice constant that are transparent to sub-GaAs bandgap light. We have grown and compared low bandgap junctions (0.7eV - 1.2 eV) using metamorphic GaInAs, metamorphic GaInAsP, and GaInAsP lattice-matched to InP. And finally, we have demonstrated excellent performance in a high voltage, low current 4 junction inverted metamorphic device using 2.1, 1.7, 1.4, and 1.1 eV junctions with over 8.7 mA/cm2 one-sun current density that operates up to 1000 suns without tunnel junction failure.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Measurements of Six-Junction Concentrator Solar Cells

Accurate measurements of six-junction inverted metamorphic concentrator solar cells under AM1.5 direct spectrum are obtained by adjusting the spectrum of a tunable high-intensity solar simulator with custom mirrors. Isotype reference cells and broadband InGaAs QE calibration cells were developed for accurate measurements. Modeling and varying the illumination show that an unavoidable 15% - 17% overillumination on the sixth junction does not result in significant error of these 6J IMM devices. Spectrally adjusted flash measurements are independently confirmed by NREL's Cell and Module Performance team. Concentration measurements of a 6J IMM solar cell resulted in 47.1 ± 3.2% (absolute) efficiency at 143 suns.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2017

Building a Six-Junction Inverted Metamorphic Concentrator Solar Cell

We propose practical six-junction (6J) inverted metamorphic multijunction (IMM) concentrator solar cell designs with the potential to exceed 50% efficiency using moderately high quality junction materials. We demonstrate the top three junctions and their monolithic integration lattice matched to GaAs using 2.1-eV AlGaInP, 1.7-eV AlGaAs or GaInAsP, and 1.4-eV GaAs with external radiative efficiencies >0.1%. We demonstrate tunnel junctions with peak tunneling current >400 A/cm 2 that are transparent to <2.1-eV light. We compare the bottom three GaInAs(p) junctions with bandgaps of 1.2, 1.0, and 0.7 eV grown on InP and transparent metamorphic grades with low dislocation densities. The solution to an integration challenge resulting from Zn diffusion in the GaAs junction is illustrated in a five-junction IMM. Excellent 1-sun performance is demonstrated in a complete 6J IMM device with VOC = 5.15 V, and a promising pathway toward >50% efficiency at high concentrations is presented.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effects of Spectral Error in Efficiency Measurements of GaInAs-Based Concentrator Solar Cells

This technical report documents a particular error in efficiency measurements of triple-absorber concentrator solar cells caused by incorrect spectral irradiance -- specifically, one that occurs when the irradiance from unfiltered, pulsed xenon solar simulators into the GaInAs bottom subcell is too high. For cells designed so that the light-generated photocurrents in the three subcells are nearly equal, this condition can cause a large increase in the measured fill factor, which, in turn, causes a significant artificial increase in the efficiency. The error is readily apparent when the data under concentration are compared to measurements with correctly balanced photocurrents, and manifests itself as discontinuities in plots of fill factor and efficiency versus concentration ratio. In this work, we simulate the magnitudes and effects of this error with a device-level model of two concentrator cell designs, and demonstrate how a new Spectrolab, Inc., Model 460 Tunable-High Intensity Pulsed Solar Simulator (T-HIPSS) can mitigate the error.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Six-Junction Concentrator Solar Cells

We report on six-junction inverted metamorphic (6J IMM) solar cells developed for concentrator applications. Monolithic III-V structures are grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy with junction bandgaps of 2.06, 1.70, 1.40, 1.16, 0.94, and 0.70 eV. The top three junctions are lattice-matched to the GaAs substrate, but the bottom three junctions use three consecutive metamorphic compositionally graded buffers to transition the lattice constant to GaxIn1-xAs compositions with the previously listed bandgaps. Performance of 6J IMM devices at one-sun AM1.5 Direct conditions gives VOC = 5.301 V, JSC = 8.05 mA/cm2, fill factor=83.9%, and efficiency=35.8%. Promising operation at high concentration is achieved but the spectrum was not controlled to AM1.5D. Tunnel junctions do not limit until at least several hundred suns. High concentration performance appears to be limited by internal heterojunction barriers created by zinc diffusion that decreases the fill factor. The properties of each junction within the 6J IMM have been separately characterized through electroluminescence and luminescent coupling measurements.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Energy Yield Determination of Concentrator Solar Cells using Laboratory Measurements: Preprint

The annual energy conversion efficiency is calculated for a four junction inverted metamorphic solar cell that has been completely characterized in the laboratory at room temperature using measurements fit to a comprehensive optoelectronic model of the multijunction solar cells. A simple model of the temperature dependence is used to predict the performance of the solar cell under varying temperature and spectra characteristic of Golden, CO for an entire year. The annual energy conversion efficiency is calculated by integrating the predicted cell performance over the entire year. The effects of geometric concentration, CPV system thermal characteristics, and luminescent coupling are highlighted. temperature and spectra characteristic of Golden, CO for an entire year. The annual energy conversion efficiency is calculated by integrating the predicted cell performance over the entire year. The effects of geometric concentration, CPV system thermal characteristics, and luminescent coupling are highlighted.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Mechanically Stacked Four-Junction Concentrator Solar Cells

Multijunction solar cells can be fabricated by bonding together component cells that are grown separately. Because the component cells are each grown lattice-matched to suitable substrates, this technique allows alloys of different lattice constants to be combined without the structural defects introduced when using metamorphic buffers. Here we present results on the fabrication and performance of four-junction mechanical stacks composed of GaInP/GaAs and GaInAsP/GaInAs tandems, grown on GaAs and InP substrates, respectively. The two tandems were bonded together with a low-index, transparent epoxy that acts as an omni-directional reflector to the GaAs bandedge luminescence, while simultaneously transmitting nearly all of the sub-bandgap light. As determined by electroluminescence measurements and optical modeling, the GaAs subcell demonstrates a higher internal radiative limit and thus higher subcell voltage, compared with GaAs subcells without enhanced internal optics; all four subcells exhibit excellent material quality. The device was fabricated with four contact terminals so that each tandem can be operated at its maximum power point, which raises the cumulative efficiency and decreases spectral sensitivity. Efficiencies exceeding 38% at one-sun have been demonstrated. Eliminating the series resistance is the key challenge for the concentrator cells. We will discuss the performance of one-sun and concentrator versions of the device, and compare the results to recently fabricated monolithic four-junction cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Flexible thermal cycle test equipment for concentrator solar cells

A system and method for performing thermal stress testing of photovoltaic solar cells is presented. The system and method allows rapid testing of photovoltaic solar cells under controllable thermal conditions. The system and method presents a means of rapidly applying thermal stresses to one or more photovoltaic solar cells in a consistent and repeatable manner.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Optimal Materials and Deposition Technique Lead to Cost-Effective Solar Cell with Best-Ever Conversion Efficiency (Fact Sheet)

This fact sheet describes how the SJ3 solar cell was invented, explains how the technology works, and why it won an R&D 100 Award. Based on NREL and Solar Junction technology, the commercial SJ3 concentrator solar cell - with 43.5% conversion efficiency at 418 suns - uses a lattice-matched multijunction architecture that has near-term potential for cells with {approx}50% efficiency. Multijunction solar cells have higher conversion efficiencies than any other type of solar cell. But developers of utility-scale and space applications crave even better efficiencies at lower costs to be both cost-effective and able to meet the demand for power. The SJ3 multijunction cell, developed by Solar Junction with assistance from foundational technological advances by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has the highest efficiency to date - almost 2% absolute more than the current industry standard multijunction cell-yet at a comparable cost. So what did it take to create this cell having 43.5% efficiency at 418-sun concentration? A combination of materials with carefully designed properties, a manufacturing technique allowing precise control, and an optimized device design.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Reverse Heterojunction (Al)GaInP Solar Cells for Improved Efficiency at Concentration

Mitigating series resistance is crucial to the efficiency of concentrator solar cells at high current density. Conventional AlGaInP junction designs for the top junction of III-V multijunction cells present a challenging tradeoff between series resistance on the one hand and current collection and voltage on the other hand. In this article we discuss the physics of a reverse heterojunction solar cell that aims to improve on this tradeoff by combining a high bandgap Al 0.18 Ga 0.33 In 0.49 P base and a lower bandgap (Al)GaInP emitter. The high mobility of the emitter leads to a relatively low series resistance, compared with a high bandgap homojunction cell. Furthermore, the electroluminescence spectrum shows emission peaks from both the emitter and base, leading to an open-circuit voltage that is not strictly dominated by either layer. The reverse heterojunction design is increasingly beneficial as the one-sun voltage increases.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Transmissive concentrator multijunction solar cells with over 47% in-band power conversion efficiency

Transmissive concentrator multijunction (TCMJ) solar cells with over 47% in-band power conversion efficiency (PCE) have been designed and realized. These TCMJ solar cells have been characterized under 1 sun and concentrated 500 sun solar spectra, showing that the PCE for in-band light (photon energies above the cell’s lowest bandgap) can reach up to 47.6% (29.5% for the full solar spectrum). Temperature coefficients of electrical parameters (V oc , J sc , FF) have been derived from measurements within the temperature range of 20°C to 130°C, showing linear variations versus temperature change. Here, optical measurements demonstrate that the cells show 76.5% solar-weighted optical transmission for the out-of-band light (photon energy below the cell’s lowest bandgap). This TCMJ solar cell exhibits promising spectrum splitting capability, which has potential for use in hybrid photovoltaic-solar thermal applications.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

GaAs quantum dot solar cell under concentrated radiation

Effects of concentrated solar radiation on photovoltaic performance are investigated in well-developed GaAs quantum dot (QD) solar cells with 1-Sun efficiencies of 18%–19%. In these devices, the conversion processes are enhanced by nanoscale potential barriers and/or AlGaAs atomically thin barriers around QDs, which prevent photoelectron capture to QDs. Under concentrated radiation, the short circuit current increases proportionally to the concentration and the open circuit voltage shows the logarithmic increase. In the range up to hundred Suns, the contributions of QDs to the photocurrent are proportional to the light concentration. The ideality factors of 1.1–1.3 found from the V{sub OC}-Sun characteristics demonstrate effective suppression of recombination processes in barrier-separated QDs. The conversion efficiency shows the wide maximum in the range of 40–90 Suns and reaches 21.6%. Detailed analysis of I-V-Sun characteristics shows that at low intensities, the series resistance decreases inversely proportional to the concentration and, at ∼40 Suns, reaches the plateau determined mainly by the front contact resistance. Improvement of contact resistance would increase efficiency to above 24% at thousand Suns.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Buffer layer between a planar optical concentrator and a solar cell

The effect of inserting a buffer layer between a periodically multilayered isotropic dielectric (PMLID) material acting as a planar optical concentrator and a photovoltaic solar cell was theoretically investigated. The substitution of the photovoltaic material by a cheaper dielectric material in a large area of the structure could reduce the fabrication costs without significantly reducing the efficiency of the solar cell. Both crystalline silicon (c-Si) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) were considered as the photovoltaic material. We found that the buffer layer can act as an antireflection coating at the interface of the PMLID and the photovoltaic materials, and the structure increases the spectrally averaged electron-hole pair density by 36% for c-Si and 38% for GaAs compared to the structure without buffer layer. Numerical evidence indicates that the optimal structure is robust with respect to small changes in the grating profile.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗