High Efficiency GaInP/GaAs Tandem Solar Cells

K. A. Bertness, Sarah R. Kurtz, D. J. Friedman, A. E. Kibbler, C. Kramer, J. M. Olson

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

1 Scopus Citations

Abstract

GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells have achieved new record efficiencies, specifically 25.7% under air-mass 0 (AMO) illumination and 29.5% under AM1.5 global (AM1.5G) illumination. These values are the “highest efficiencies achieved by any solar cell under these illumination conditions. The monolithic, series-connected design of the tandem cells allows them to be substituted for silicon or gallium arsenide cells in photovoltaic panel systems with minimal design changes. The advantages of using GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells in space and terrestrial applications are discussed primarily in terms of the reduction in balance-of-system costs that accrues when using a higher efficiency cell. The new efficiency values represent significant improvement over previous efficiencies for this materials system, and we identify grid design, back interface passivation and top interface passivation as the three key factors leading to the improvement. In producing the high-efficiency cells, we have addressed nondestructive diagnostics and materials growth reproducibility as well as peak cell performance.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages251-256
Number of pages6
StatePublished - 1994
Event29th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference - Monterey, California
Duration: 7 Aug 199411 Aug 1994

Conference

Conference29th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
CityMonterey, California
Period7/08/9411/08/94

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 1994 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-451-6772

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'High Efficiency GaInP/GaAs Tandem Solar Cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this