2-Terminal Perovskite/Crystalline Silicon Multijunction Solar Cell Enabled by Silicon-Based Band-to-Band Tunnel Junction
Perovskite/crystalline silicon multijunction solar cells can be used as an alternative to conventional solar cells. Perovskite/crystalline silicon multijunction solar cells improve cell efficiency by incorporating multiple bandgaps.
Researchers
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2-terminal metal halide semiconductor/c-silicon multijunction solar cell with tunnel junction
United States of America | Granted | 10,535,791
Figures
FIG. 1. (a) The device structure of a 2-terminal monolithically grown perovskite/Si multijunction solar cell with an n-type Si base. The polished SEM image is taken at 45° tilt to show the Ag nanowire mesh (500 nm scale bar). (b) Band diagram of the perovskite/silicon cell interface showing the charge-transport mechanism around the Si tunnel junction.
FIG. 2. (a) TEM image of the n++/p++ silicon tunnel junction interface after the dopant activation annealing (left: 30 nm scale bar) and high-resolution TEM image of the n++ layer, showing the partially crystalline nature of this layer (right: 5 nm scale bar). (b) SIMS profile of the Si emitter and tunnel junction layer showing the sharp doping profile at the tunnel junction interface.
FIG. 3. (a) J-V curve of the 2-terminal perovskite/silicon multijunction solar cell under AM1.5G illumination. Forward and reverse-bias scan directions are shown with 5 s measurement delay per data point. Steady-state values for JSC, VOC, and MPP are measured by averaging over 30 s after reaching steady state. (b) Total device reflection and EQE of the perovskite and Si sub-cells of a typical perovskite/Si multijunction cell. The perovskite sub-c
Technology
One of the most promising ways to surpass the efficiency limit of current solar cells is by reducing the thermalization loss of high energy photons, which can be done by building solar cells in multijunction configuration using materials with different bandgaps. In this technology, the materials are silicon and an organic-inorganic halide perovskite. Perovskite was chosen because it is capable of being an efficient solar cell material despite being deposited at low-temperature and requires low-capex. The integration of perovskite top solar cell and crystalline silicon bottom solar cell is enabled by the introduction of silicon-based tunnel junction connecting the two solar cells. Depending on the perovskite chosen, the efficiency limit can be increased up to 39%.
Problem Addressed
Currently, solar cells have been unable to surpass the Shockley-Queisser Limit, which is determined by the material band gap. Because single junction solar cells only have one bandgap, photons with energy below or above this bandgap energy are not completely converted to electrical energy. However, this design overcomes this limit by creating a multijunction cell using organic-inorganic halide perovskite.
Advantages
- Increases solar cell efficiency
- Reduces cost per unit power of photovoltaics
Publications
Mailoa, Jonathan P., et al. "A 2-terminal perovskite/silicon multijunction solar cell enabled by a silicon tunnel junction." Applied Physics Letters 106, no. 12 (2015): 121105. doi: 10.1063/1.4914179.
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