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Multiple band and impurity photovoltaic solar cells: General theory and comparison to tandem cells
Author(s) -
Green Martin A.
Publication year - 2001
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.368
Subject(s) - tandem , photovoltaic system , band gap , optoelectronics , semiconductor , photon , impurity , absorption (acoustics) , theory of solar cells , multiple exciton generation , solar cell , solar energy , materials science , physics , solar cell efficiency , optics , electrical engineering , engineering , quantum mechanics , composite material
One way to improve photovoltaic solar energy performance is to absorb photons by processes involving multiple energy thresholds, such as in tandem cells, that employ multiple solar cells of different semiconductor bandgaps. Recently, another multiple threshold approach has been analysed based on a single bandgap cell with an intermediate impurity band. In the present work, the approach is extended to the N‐band cell, shown to be capable of higher performance than an N‐cell tandem. A generic approach to obtaining the selective photon absorption required for high efficiency is also described and the resulting insights applied to a new analysis of the impurity photovoltaic effect. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.