Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell

Sabina Abdul Hadi; Tim Milakovich; Mayank Bulsara; Evelina Polyzoeva; Eugene A. Fitzgerald; Judy L. Hoyt; Ammar Nayfeh

doi:10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356122

Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell

Sabina Abdul Hadi
, Tim Milakovich
, Mayank Bulsara
, Evelina Polyzoeva
, Eugene A. Fitzgerald
, Judy L. Hoyt
, Ammar Nayfeh

Electrical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper we present theoretical analysis for upper efficiency limit of a novel 2 terminal dual junction stepcell. Results show that step cell design relaxes bandgap requirements for efficient tandem cell. While conventional tandem cell with optimized bandgap combination (1.64 / 0.96 eV) has the highest efficiency (45.78 %), the step-cell design provides significant efficiency improvement for cells with non-optimized bandgap values. Efficiency upper limit for Si based step-cell with top cell bandgap equal to 1.41 eV (∼ GaAs), efficiency upper limit increases from ∼21% in conventional tandem cell to 38.7% for optimized step-cell design. Step-cell design provides opportunity for wider selection of materials used in tandem solar cell applications.

Original language	British English
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479979448
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356122
State	Published - 14 Dec 2015
Event	42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 - New Orleans, United States Duration: 14 Jun 2015 → 19 Jun 2015

Publication series

Name	2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015

Conference

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

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

detailed balance method
Multijunction solar cells
silicon
step-cell
theoretical efficiency limit

Access to Document

10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356122

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Hadi, S. A., Milakovich, T., Bulsara, M., Polyzoeva, E., Fitzgerald, E. A., Hoyt, J. L., & Nayfeh, A. (2015). Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell. In 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 Article 7356122 (2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356122

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title = "Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell",

abstract = "In this paper we present theoretical analysis for upper efficiency limit of a novel 2 terminal dual junction stepcell. Results show that step cell design relaxes bandgap requirements for efficient tandem cell. While conventional tandem cell with optimized bandgap combination (1.64 / 0.96 eV) has the highest efficiency (45.78 \%), the step-cell design provides significant efficiency improvement for cells with non-optimized bandgap values. Efficiency upper limit for Si based step-cell with top cell bandgap equal to 1.41 eV (∼ GaAs), efficiency upper limit increases from ∼21\% in conventional tandem cell to 38.7\% for optimized step-cell design. Step-cell design provides opportunity for wider selection of materials used in tandem solar cell applications.",

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Hadi, SA, Milakovich, T, Bulsara, M, Polyzoeva, E, Fitzgerald, EA, Hoyt, JL & Nayfeh, A 2015, Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell. in 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015., 7356122, 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015, New Orleans, United States, 14/06/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356122

Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell. / Hadi, Sabina Abdul; Milakovich, Tim; Bulsara, Mayank et al.
2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. 7356122 (2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015).

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

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AU - Hadi, Sabina Abdul

AU - Milakovich, Tim

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AU - Polyzoeva, Evelina

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AU - Nayfeh, Ammar

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N2 - In this paper we present theoretical analysis for upper efficiency limit of a novel 2 terminal dual junction stepcell. Results show that step cell design relaxes bandgap requirements for efficient tandem cell. While conventional tandem cell with optimized bandgap combination (1.64 / 0.96 eV) has the highest efficiency (45.78 %), the step-cell design provides significant efficiency improvement for cells with non-optimized bandgap values. Efficiency upper limit for Si based step-cell with top cell bandgap equal to 1.41 eV (∼ GaAs), efficiency upper limit increases from ∼21% in conventional tandem cell to 38.7% for optimized step-cell design. Step-cell design provides opportunity for wider selection of materials used in tandem solar cell applications.

AB - In this paper we present theoretical analysis for upper efficiency limit of a novel 2 terminal dual junction stepcell. Results show that step cell design relaxes bandgap requirements for efficient tandem cell. While conventional tandem cell with optimized bandgap combination (1.64 / 0.96 eV) has the highest efficiency (45.78 %), the step-cell design provides significant efficiency improvement for cells with non-optimized bandgap values. Efficiency upper limit for Si based step-cell with top cell bandgap equal to 1.41 eV (∼ GaAs), efficiency upper limit increases from ∼21% in conventional tandem cell to 38.7% for optimized step-cell design. Step-cell design provides opportunity for wider selection of materials used in tandem solar cell applications.

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KW - Multijunction solar cells

KW - silicon

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Hadi SA, Milakovich T, Bulsara M, Polyzoeva E, Fitzgerald EA, Hoyt JL et al. Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell. In 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2015. 7356122. (2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015). doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356122

Theoretical efficiency limits of a 2 terminal dual junction step cell

Abstract

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UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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