Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingConference contributionResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Emily Warren
  • Michael Rienaecker
  • Manuel Schnabel
  • Michael Deceglie
  • Robby Peibst
  • Adele Tamboli
  • Paul Stradins

External Research Organisations

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH)
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages2648-2650
Number of pages3
ISBN (electronic)9781538685297
Publication statusPublished - 26 Nov 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - Waikoloa Village, United States
Duration: 10 Jun 201815 Jun 2018

Abstract

Most tandem solar cells are either two-terminal devices where the subcells are electrically connected in series or four terminal devices where each subcell is operated independently. There are trade-offs between the two integration schemes in terms of ease of fabrication, overall efficiency, and spectral sensitivity. Three-terminal (3T) tandem cells can combine the best aspects of both integration schemes if designed properly. Using a 3T design based on an interdigitated back contact (IBC) Si device with conductive front surface, combined with a wider bandgap III-V top cell, we discuss the operation of three terminal tandems in detail. We present technology computer aided design (TCAD) device physics simulations to describe trends in performance. We show that this type of 3T device can provide a robust operating mechanism to efficiently capture the solar spectrum without the need to current match sub-cells or fabricate complicated metal interconnects between cells.

Keywords

    simulation, tandem cell, TCAD, three-terminal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. / Warren, Emily; Rienaecker, Michael; Schnabel, Manuel et al.
2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2018. p. 2648-2650 8547611.

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingConference contributionResearchpeer review

Warren, E, Rienaecker, M, Schnabel, M, Deceglie, M, Peibst, R, Tamboli, A & Stradins, P 2018, Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. in 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC., 8547611, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 2648-2650, 7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018, Waikoloa Village, United States, 10 Jun 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611
Warren, E., Rienaecker, M., Schnabel, M., Deceglie, M., Peibst, R., Tamboli, A., & Stradins, P. (2018). Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. In 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC (pp. 2648-2650). Article 8547611 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611
Warren E, Rienaecker M, Schnabel M, Deceglie M, Peibst R, Tamboli A et al. Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. In 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2018. p. 2648-2650. 8547611 doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611
Warren, Emily ; Rienaecker, Michael ; Schnabel, Manuel et al. / Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2018. pp. 2648-2650
Download
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abstract = "Most tandem solar cells are either two-terminal devices where the subcells are electrically connected in series or four terminal devices where each subcell is operated independently. There are trade-offs between the two integration schemes in terms of ease of fabrication, overall efficiency, and spectral sensitivity. Three-terminal (3T) tandem cells can combine the best aspects of both integration schemes if designed properly. Using a 3T design based on an interdigitated back contact (IBC) Si device with conductive front surface, combined with a wider bandgap III-V top cell, we discuss the operation of three terminal tandems in detail. We present technology computer aided design (TCAD) device physics simulations to describe trends in performance. We show that this type of 3T device can provide a robust operating mechanism to efficiently capture the solar spectrum without the need to current match sub-cells or fabricate complicated metal interconnects between cells.",
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N1 - Funding Information: This work was authored by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office under Contract SETP-DE-EE00030299. Funding for the work at ISFH was provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy,under grant number 324040 (project EASi). The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this work, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 IEEE. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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Y1 - 2018/11/26

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