Design of GaAs Solar Cells Operating Close to the Shockley–Queisser Limit

Abstract

With recent advances in device design, single-junction GaAs solar cells are approaching their theoretical efficiency limits. Accurate numerical simulation may offer insights that can help close the remaining gap between the practical and theoretical limits. Significant care must be taken, however, to ensure that the simulation is self-consistent and properly comprehends thermodynamic limits. In this paper, we use rigorous photon recycling simulation coupled with carrier transport simulation to identify the dominant loss mechanisms that limit the performance of thin-film GaAs solar cells.