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Ultra‐efficient intrinsic‐vertical‐tunnel‐junction structures for next‐generation concentrator solar cells
Author(s) -
Seoane Natalia,
Fernández Eduardo F.,
Almonacid Florencia,
GarcíaLoureiro Antonio
Publication year - 2021
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.3369
Subject(s) - suns in alchemy , microscale chemistry , optoelectronics , photovoltaic system , concentrator , materials science , photovoltaics , solar cell , energy conversion efficiency , engineering physics , optics , electrical engineering , physics , engineering , mathematics education , mathematics
The efficiency of solar cells can be enhanced by increasing the light intensity and/or the number of bandgaps of the structure. However, current solar cells cannot fully exploit these two factors because of various critical drawbacks. Here, we show a novel microscale, that is, side ≈ 0.5 mm, vertical solar cell structure that does not suffer the series resistance and bandgap limitations issues of current devices. The preliminary structures investigated show extreme efficiencies, >40%, at ultrahigh concentration factors of 15 000 suns. In addition, future designs with a better bandgap configuration are expected to deliver cells with efficiencies far above 50% at extreme light intensities. This early design offers a fast and reliable route to push the efficiency towards the maximum solar conversion limit and represents a promising way to develop new‐generation ultraefficient and low‐cost concentrator photovoltaic systems.