Applied Physics Letters · 2007 · 1.2K citations · 4 references
EngineeringMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceElectronic MaterialsSemiconductor DevicesSemiconductor MaterialsPhotovoltaic DevicesPhotovoltaic MaterialsSemiconductor Device MaterialsSolar Cell MaterialsSolar CellsWide Band Gap SemiconductorsConcentrator PhotovoltaicsElectron-hole RecombinationMulti-junction Solar CellsOptical DepthRecombination LossesRecombination MechanismsSolar Cell Device PhysicsSolar Energy Conversion
An efficiency of 40.7% was measured and independently confirmed for a metamorphic three-junction GaInP∕GaInAs∕Ge cell under the standard spectrum for terrestrial concentrator solar cells at 240 suns (24.0W∕cm2, AM1.5D, low aerosol optical depth, 25°C). This is the initial demonstration of a solar cell with over 40% efficiency, and is the highest solar conversion efficiency yet achieved for any type of photovoltaic device. Lattice-matched concentrator cells have now reached 40.1% efficiency. Electron-hole recombination mechanisms are analyzed in metamorphic GaxIn1−xAs and GaxIn1−xP materials, and fundamental power losses are quantified to identify paths to still higher efficiencies.
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