• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.109-118
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• 2018

Silicon (Si) solar cells are the most successful technology which are ruling the present photovoltaic (PV) market. In that essence, multijunction (MJ) solar cells provided a new path to improve the state-of-art efficiencies. There are so many hurdles to grow the MJ III-V materials on Si substrate as Si with other materials often demands similar qualities, so it is needed to realize the prospective of Si tandem solar cells. However, Si tandem solar cells with MJ III-V materials have shown the maximum efficiency of 30 %. This work reviews the development of the III-V/Si solar cells with the synopsis of various growth mechanisms i.e hetero-epitaxy, wafer bonding and mechanical stacking of III-V materials on Si substrate. Theoretical approaches to design efficient tandem cell with an analysis of state-of-art silicon solar cells, sensitivity, difficulties and their probable solutions are discussed in this work. An analytical model which yields the practical efficiency values to design the high efficiency III-V/Si solar cells is described briefly.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.442-453
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• 2023

Tandem or multijunction solar cells (MJSCs) can convert sunlight into electricity with higher efficiency (η) than single junction solar cells (SJSCs) by dividing the solar irradiance over sub-cells having distinct bandgaps. The efficiencies of various common SJSC materials are close to the edge of their theoretical efficiency and hence there is a tremendous growing interest in utilizing the tandem/multijunction technique. Recently, III-V materials integration on a silicon substrate has been broadly investigated in the development of III-V on Si tandem solar cells. Numerous growth techniques such as heteroepitaxial growth, wafer bonding, and mechanical stacking are crucial for better understanding of high-quality III-V epitaxial layers on Si. As the choice of growth method and substrate selection can significantly impact the quality and performance of the resulting tandem cell and the terminal configuration exhibit a vital role in the overall proficiency. Parallel and Series-connected configurations have been studied, each with its advantage and disadvantages depending on the application and cell configuration. The optimization of both growth mechanisms and terminal configurations is necessary to further improve efficiency and lessen the cost of III-V on Si tandem solar cells. In this review article, we present an overview of the growth mechanisms and terminal configurations with the areas of research that are crucial for the commercialization of III-V on Si tandem solar cells.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.526-532
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• 2015

Solar cells with other alternative energies are being importantly recognized related with post-2020 climate change regime formation. In a point of view of materials, solar cells are classified to organic and inorganic solar cells which can provide a plant-scale electricity. In particular, recent studies about compound semiconductor solar cells, such as III-V tandem solar cells, chalcopyrite-series CIGSSe solar cells, and kesterite-series CZTSSe solar cells were rapidly accelerated. In this report, we introduce a research trend and technical issues for the compound semiconductor solar cells.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.37-45
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• 1998

In this paper, present status of super high-efficiency tandem solar cells has been reviewed and key issues for realizing super high-efficiency have also been discussed. In addition, the terretrial R&D activities of tandem cells, in the New Sunshine Program of MITI(Ministry of International Trade and Industry) and NEDO(New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) in Japan are reviewed briefly. The mechanical stacked 3-junction cells of monolithically grown InGaP/GaAs 2-junction cells and InGaAs cells have reached the highest efficiency achieved in Japan of 33.3% at 1-sun AM1.5. This paper also reports high-efficiency InGaP/GaAs 2-junction solar cells with a world-record efficiency of 26.9% at AM0, 28$^{\circ}C$ and radiation damage recovery phenomena of the tandem cell performance due to minority-carrier injection under light illumination or forward bias, which causes defect annealing in InGaP top cells. Future prospects for realizing super-high efficiency and low-cost tandem solar cells are also described.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2018

Multijunction solar cells present a practical solution towards a better photovoltaic conversion for a wider spectral range. In this review, we compare different types of multi-ijunction solar cell. First, we introduce thin film multijunction solar cell include to the thin film silicon, III-V material and chalcopyrite material. Until now the maximum reported power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of solar cells having different component sub-cells are 14.0% (thin film silicon), 46% (III-V material), 4.4% (chalcopyrite material) respectively. We then discuss the development of multijunction solar cell in which c-Si is used as bottom sub-cell while III-V material, thin film silicon, chalcopyrite material or perovskite material is used as top sub-cells.

• Solar Energy
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 1998

In this paper, the current status of manufacturing technologies for GaAs/Si solar cell were revived and provied new MOCVD. In the manufacturing process of GaAs/Si solar cells and an experiment to get the high efficiency GaAs solar cells, we must investigate the optimum growth conditions to get high quality GaAs films on Si substrates by MOCVD. The GaAs on Si substrates has been recognized as a lightweight alternative to pure substrate for space applicaton. Because its density is less the half of GaAs or Ge.So GaAs/Si has twofold weight advantage to GaAs monolithic cell. The theoretical conversion efficiecy limit of tandem GaAs/Si solar cell is 32% under AM 0 and $25^{\circ}C$ condition. It was concluded that the development of cost effective MOCVD technologies shoud be ahead GaAs solar cells for achived move high efficiency III-V solar cells involving tandem structure.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.76-84
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• 2019

Silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJ) have dominated the photovoltaic market up till now but their conversion performance is practically limited to around 26% compared with the theoretical efficiency limit of 29.4%. A silicon based multi-junction devices are expected to overcome this limitation. In this report, we briefly review the state-of-art characteristic of wide-gap materials which has played a role as top sub-cells in silicon based multi-junction solar cells. In addition, we indicate significantly practical challenges and key issues of these multi-junction combination. Finally, we focus to some characteristics of III-V/c-Si tandem configuration which are reaching highly record performance in multi-junction silicon solar cells.