Title :
Limiting efficiencies over 50% using multijunction solar cells with multiple exciton generation
Author :
Lee, Jongwon ; Honsberg, Christiana B.
Author_Institution :
Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ, USA
Abstract :
The achievement of solar cells over 50% is a critical goal for photovoltaics. Multijunction solar cells over 5 junctions allow such efficiencies, but are severely limited by material constraints and growth requirements for lattice matching. Nanostructured approaches such as multiple exciton generation (MEG) potentially offer a route to higher efficiency but still require high values of sunlight concentration and large quantum yields. We show an approach that allows for higher efficiencies based on including MEG in a multijunction solar cell. We also present a thermodynamic model for multijunction solar cells with MEG that demonstrates possible improvements.
Keywords :
solar cells; MEG; efficiencies limition; lattice matching; multijunction solar cells; multiple exciton generation; nanostructured approaches; photovoltaics; Equations; Indexes; Lattices; Photonics; Thermal analysis; detailed balance; efficiency; multijunction; multiple exciton generation; tandem; thermodynamic limit;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2012 38th IEEE
Conference_Location :
Austin, TX
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4673-0064-3
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2012.6317569