Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of the circle-grid electrodes on concentrated GaAs solar cell efficiency

  • Published:
Electronic Materials Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the effect of the shading factor of the front grid pattern on concentrated solar cell efficiency, taking the trade-off between the series resistance of the electrodes and the amount of incident light into consideration. We examine the thermal effect with regard to five different circle-grid electrode patterns of the front contact. The front contacts with different grid patterns affect the characteristics of light-concentrated-type GaAs single-junction solar cells. The device parameters analyzed include the open-circuit voltage (V oc ), short-circuit current (I sc ), fill factor (FF) and conversion efficiency (η). The results of our study show that for a concentration ratio greater than 60x with AM1.5G, the device with a shading factor of 7.1% has the best cell efficiency of 27.05%, due to the smaller current crowding at the center spot. The results indicate that the conversion efficiency of solar cells can be improved by establishing a compromise between the shading effect and the series resistance effect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. Guter, J. Schone, S. P. Philipps, M. Steiner, G. Siefer, A. Wekkeli, E. Welser, E. Oliva, A. W. Bett, and F. Dimroth, Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 2235041 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. B. T. Tran, E. Y. Chang, H. D. Trinh, C. T. Lee, K. C. Sahoo, K. L. Lin, M. C. Huang, H. W. Yu, T. T. Luong, C. C. Chung, and C. L. Nguyen, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 102, 208 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J. Zhao, A. Wang, P. Altermatt, and M. A. Green, Appl. Phys. Lett. 66, 3636 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Zhao, A. Wang, M. A. Green, and F. Ferrazza, Appl. Phys. Lett. 73, 1991 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. A. R. Moore, RCA Review 40, 140 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  6. A. Cheknane, B. Benyoucef, J.-P. Charles, R. Zerdoum, and M. Trari, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 87, 1 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Y. Hamakawa, Solar Photovoltaic Cells, p. 17, Corona Publishing, Tokyo, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  8. B. T. Tran, E. Y. Chang, K. L. Lin, Y. Y. Wong, K. C. Sahoo, H. Y. Lin, M. C. Huang, H. Q. Nguyen, C. T. Lee, and H. D. Trinh, Appl. Phys. Express 5, 115501 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. User’s Manual for Synopsys Sentaurus Device, Synopsys Inc., Mountain View, California (2007).

  10. J. S. Coventry, E. Franklin, and A. Blakers, ANZSES Solar Energy Conference, p. 1, Newcastle, Australia (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  11. V. M. Andreev, V. A. Grilikhes, and V. D. Rumyantsev, Photovoltaic Conversion of Concentrated Sunlight, p. 73, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  12. A. G. Aberle, S. R. Wenham, and M. A. Green, 23 rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, p. 133, Louisvilly, KY (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. Lei, N. F. Chen, Y. M. Bai, M. Cui, H. Zhang, F. B. Gao, Z. G. Yin, and X. W. Zhang, Sci. China Ser. E-Tech Sci. 52, 1176 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  14. M. A. Green, Operating Principles, Technology and System Applications, p. 85, Prentice-Hall Series in Solid State Physical Electronics (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  15. R. A. Larue, P. G. Borden, and P. E. Gregory, IEEE Electron. Device Lett., 2, 41 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. R. R. King, D. C. Law, K. M. Edmondson, C. M. Fetzer, G. S. Kinsey, H. Yoon, R. A. Sherif, and N. H. Karam, Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 183516 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. S. Hatwaambo, K. G. Chinyama, M. Mwamburi, and B. Karlsson, ICCEP International Conference, p. 335 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan

    Chen-Chen Chung, Binh Tinh Tran, Kung-Liang Lin, Hung-Wei Yu, Yen-Teng Ho & Edward Yi Chang

  2. Department of Electronics Engineering and Institute of Electronics, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan

    Ming-Hung Han & Chun-Yen Chang

Authors
  1. Chen-Chen Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Binh Tinh Tran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ming-Hung Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kung-Liang Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hung-Wei Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yen-Teng Ho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Chun-Yen Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Edward Yi Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edward Yi Chang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chung, CC., Tran, B.T., Han, MH. et al. Effect of the circle-grid electrodes on concentrated GaAs solar cell efficiency. Electron. Mater. Lett. 10, 963–967 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13391-014-3201-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13391-014-3201-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation