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On the use of graphene to improve the performance of concentrator III‐V multijunction solar cells
Author(s) -
Barrutia Laura,
Lombardero Iván,
Ochoa Mario,
Gabás Mercedes,
García Iván,
Palacios Tomás,
Johnson Andrew,
ReyStolle Ignacio,
Algora Carlos
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.3207
Subject(s) - graphene , suns in alchemy , materials science , optoelectronics , photovoltaics , short circuit , photovoltaic system , solar cell , organic solar cell , quantum efficiency , hybrid solar cell , nanotechnology , graphene nanoribbons , polymer solar cell , composite material , physics , electrical engineering , engineering , quantum mechanics , voltage , polymer
Graphene has been intensively studied in photovoltaics focusing on emerging solar cells based on thin films, dye‐sensitized solar cells, quantum dots, nanowires, and so forth. However, the typical efficiency of these solar cells incorporating graphene is below 16%. Therefore, the photovoltaic potential of graphene has not yet been shown. In this work, the use of graphene for concentration applications on III‐V multijunction solar cells, which indeed are the solar cells with the highest efficiency, is demonstrated. First, a wide optoelectronic characterization of graphene layers is carried out. Then, the graphene layer is incorporated onto triple‐junction solar cells, which decreases their series resistance by 35% (relative), leading to an increase in fill factor of 4% (absolute) at concentrations of 1000 suns. Simultaneously, the optical absorption of graphene produces a relative short‐circuit current density decrease in the range of 0% to 1.8%. As a result, an absolute efficiency improvement close to 1% at concentrations of 1000 suns was achieved with respect to triple‐junction solar cells without graphene. The impact of incorporating one and two graphene monolayers is also evaluated.