Effective harvesting of photons for improvement of solar energy conversion by graded bandgap multilayer solar cells

DHARMADASA, I, KALYANARATNE, N.D.P.S.R. and DHARMADASA, R (2013). Effective harvesting of photons for improvement of solar energy conversion by graded bandgap multilayer solar cells. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 41 (2), 73-80.

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Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v41i2.5702

Abstract

Various ways to harvest photons in the solar spectrum and heat energy from the surroundings have been considered by utilizing solid state physics principles. A graded bandgap multi-layer solar cell has been designed to absorb UV, visible and infrared radiation, and to combine impact-ionization and impurity photovoltaic (PV) effect to enhance photo-generation of charge carriers and the collection. The above theoretical concepts were experimentally tested using the well researched material system, GaAs/AlxGa(1-x)As. The highest reported Voc ~ 1175 mV together with the highest possible fill factors (FFs) in the mid 80 %’s, have been achieved for the initial devices. The overall efficiency achieved using only two growths is ~ 20 %. As expected from the initial design, the impurity PV effect is experimentally observed producing Voc values in the range of 650-900 mV under complete darkness for the GaAs/AlxGa(1-x)As based devices. Both the theoretical concepts and experimental results are presented in this paper.

Item Type: Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Materials and Engineering Research Institute > Advanced Coatings and Composites Research Centre > Electronic Materials and Sensors Research Group
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v41i2.5702
Page Range: 73-80
Depositing User: Helen Garner
Date Deposited: 19 Aug 2013 09:59
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 19:45
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/7274

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