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An Investigation into III–V Compounds to Reach 20% Efficiency with Minimum Cell Thickness in Ultrathin-Film Solar Cells

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Abstract

III–V single-junction solar cells have already achieved very high efficiency levels. However, their use in terrestrial applications is limited by the high fabrication cost. High-efficiency, ultrathin-film solar cells can effectively solve this problem, as their material requirement is minimum. This work presents a comparison among several III–V compounds that have high optical absorption capability as well as optimum bandgap (around 1.4 eV) for use as solar cell absorbers. The aim is to observe and compare the ability of these materials to reach a target efficiency level of 20% with minimum possible cell thickness. The solar cell considered has an n-type ZnSe window layer, an n-type Al0.1Ga0.9As emitter layer, and a p-type Ga0.5In0.5P back surface field (BSF) layer. Ge is used as the substrate. In the initial design, a p-type InP base was sandwiched between the emitter and the BSF layer, and the design parameters for the device were optimized by analyzing the simulation outcomes with ADEPT/F, a one-dimensional (1D) simulation tool. Then, the minimum cell thickness that achieves 20% efficiency was determined by observing the efficiency variation with cell thickness. Afterwards, the base material was changed to a few other selected III–V compounds, and for each case, the minimum cell thickness was determined in a similar manner. Finally, these cell thickness values were compared and analyzed to identify more effective base layer materials for III–V single-junction solar cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Islamic University of Technology, Room 409, North Hall, IUT, Board Bazar, Gazipur, 1704, Bangladesh

    K. A. S. M. Ehteshamul Haque & Md. Mehedi Hassan Galib

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  1. K. A. S. M. Ehteshamul Haque
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  2. Md. Mehedi Hassan Galib
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Correspondence to K. A. S. M. Ehteshamul Haque.

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Haque, K.A.S.M.E., Galib, M.M.H. An Investigation into III–V Compounds to Reach 20% Efficiency with Minimum Cell Thickness in Ultrathin-Film Solar Cells. J. Electron. Mater. 42, 2867–2875 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2693-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2693-x

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