40% efficient metamorphic GaInP /GaInAs/Ge multijunction solar cells
Abstract
An efficiency of 40.7% was measured and independently confirmed for a metamorphic three-junction GaInP /GaInAs/Ge cell under the standard spectrum for terrestrial concentrator solar cells at 240 suns (24.0W/cm2, AM1.5D, low aerosol optical depth, 25°C). This is the initial demonstration of a solar cell with over 40% efficiency, and is the highest solar conversion efficiency yet achieved for any type of photovoltaic device. Lattice-matched concentrator cells have now reached 40.1% efficiency. Electron-hole recombination mechanisms are analyzed in metamorphic GaxIn1-xAs and GaxIn1-xP materials, and fundamental power losses are quantified to identify paths to still higher efficiencies.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.2734507
- Bibcode:
- 2007ApPhL..90r3516K
- Keywords:
-
- 84.60.Jt;
- 73.40.Lq;
- 72.20.Jv;
- Photoelectric conversion: solar cells and arrays;
- Other semiconductor-to-semiconductor contacts p-n junctions and heterojunctions;
- Charge carriers: generation recombination lifetime and trapping