Improving the performance of a multi-junction solar cell by optimizing BSF, base and emitter layers

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology Solid-state materials for advanced technology, 2019-04, Vol.243, p.108-114
• Main Authors: Arzbin, Hamid Reza, Ghadimi, Abbas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-reflection coating (ARC); Back surface field (BSF); Circuits; Double-junction (DJ) solar cell; Efficiency; Emitters; Energy conversion efficiency; Open circuit voltage; Optimization; Photovoltaic cells; Short circuit current; Short circuit currents; Solar cells; Thickness; Tunnel diode; Tunnel junctions
• ISSN: 0921-5107; 1873-4944
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2019.04.001

[Display omitted] •A highly transparent tunneling junction is utilized.•Different layers of the solar cell are optimized in order to increase efficiency.•A solar cell with efficiency higher than 60% is proposed through simulation. Reducing the recombination rate and increasing the photo-generation rate play a very significant role in improving the performance of the solar cells. In this research, AlGaAs has been used instead of GaAs in emitter layer with reduction in thicknesses of the base in order to decrease the recombination rate and increase the efficiency of the proposed solar cell. In addition, tunnel junction, buffer junction and BSF layers have been optimized to achieve higher efficiency. The efficiency can be improved by selecting optimal thickness of the materials because of the increase in photo-generation rate and absorption rate, improving transparency of the tunnel area and reducing the recombination rates of the solar cells. The results showed that after optimization, JSC (short circuit current density), VOC (open circuit voltage) and the η (conversion efficiency) of the solar cell are clearly increased. Also, the results of simulation were compared to the other designs in order to compare its performance. In the proposed structure, values of Voc = 2.52 V, Jsc = 29.09 mA/cm2, FF = 86.49% and η = 62.04% (1 sun) are obtained under AM1.5G illumination.