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Interfaces in III–V High Efficiency Solar Cells

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High-Efficiency Solar Cells

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 190))

Abstract

The III–V multijunction solar cells consist of numerous layers with a transition between semiconductors of different composition—hetero-interfaces, which can impair the quality and performance of the cells. The properties of the hetero-interfaces and their impact to GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cells performance are explored in this chapter. It was demonstrated that among all interface-related factors (like recombination at the interface states) the undesired potential barriers at the isotype hetero-interfaces have the most significant influence on cell performance at high sun concentration. In particular, a significant valence band offset at the hetero-interfaces between III-arsenides (GaAs, AlGaAs) and III-phosphides (GaInP, AlInP) leads to undesired potential barriers for majority carriers at the p–p isotype heterojunction interfaces that results in significant losses. A set of the experimental techniques was successfully applied for the interface characterization. The presence of the potential barrier and its effective height at the mentioned above interfaces were experimentally determined. Another phenomenon at the III-V/IV heterojunction interfaces is described on example of GaInP/Ge interface. An unexpected “parasitic” potential barrier was observed at this interface, which is related to inter-diffusion process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Renewable Energy laboratory, St. Petersburg Academic University-Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Hlopina str. 8/3, 194021, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

    Alexander S. Gudovskikh

  2. Photovoltaics Lab, IOFFE Physical-Technical Institute, 26 Polytekhnicheskaya str., 194021, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

    Nikolay A. Kalyuzhnyy, Sergey A. Mintairov & Vladimir M. Lantratov

Authors
  1. Alexander S. Gudovskikh
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  2. Nikolay A. Kalyuzhnyy
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  3. Sergey A. Mintairov
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  4. Vladimir M. Lantratov
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Correspondence to Alexander S. Gudovskikh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Research Center for Semiconductor Integrated Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China

    Xiaodong Wang

  2. Engineering Research Center for Semiconductor Integrated Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China

    Zhiming M. Wang

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Gudovskikh, A.S., Kalyuzhnyy, N.A., Mintairov, S.A., Lantratov, V.M. (2014). Interfaces in III–V High Efficiency Solar Cells. In: Wang, X., Wang, Z. (eds) High-Efficiency Solar Cells. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 190. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01988-8_18

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