• 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.

• Ceramist
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.146-169
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• 2019

To overcome the theoretical efficiency of single-junction solar cells (> 30 %), tandem solar cells (or multi-junction solar cells) is considered as a strong nominee because of their excellent light utilization. Organic-inorganic halide perovskite has been regarded as a promising candidate material for next-generation tandem solar cell due to not only their excellent optoelectronic properties but also their bandgap-tune-ability and low-temperature process-possibility. As a result, they have been adopted either as a wide-bandgap top cell combined with narrow-bandgap silicon or CuIn_xGa_(1-x)Se₂ bottom cells or for all-perovskite tandem solar cells using narrow- and wide-bandgap perovskites. To successfully transition perovskite materials from for single junction to tandem, substantial efforts need to focus on fabricating the high quality wide- and narrow-bandgap perovskite materials and semi-transparent electrode/recombination layer. In this paper, we present an overview of the current research and our outlook regarding perovskite-based tandem solar technology. Several key challenges discussed are: 1) a wide-bandgap perovskite for top-cell in multi-junction tandem solar cells; 2) a narrow-bandgap perovskite for bottom-cell in all-perovskite tandem solar cells, and 3) suitable semi-transparent conducting layer for efficient electrode or recombination layer in tandem solar cells.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.94-101
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• 2020

This study was trying to focus on achieving high efficiency of multi junction solar cell with thin film silicon solar cells. The proposed thin film Si-Ge/c-Si tandem junction solar cell concept with a combination of low-cost thin-film silicon solar cell technology and high-efficiency c-Si cells in a monolithically stacked configuration. The tandem junction solar cells using amorphous silicon germanium (a-SiGe:H) as an absorption layer of upper sub-cell were simulated through ASA (Advanced Semiconductor Analysis) simulator for acquiring the optimum structure. Graded Ge composition - effect of E_g profiling and inserted buffer layer between absorption layer and doped layer showed the improved current density (J_sc) and conversion efficiency (η). 13.11% conversion efficiency of the tandem junction solar cell was observed, which is a result of showing the possibility of thin film Si-Ge/c-Si tandem junction solar cell.

• Vacuum Magazine
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.4-9
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• 2014

About 170 years has been passed since the concept of photovoltaic has been suggested by French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel. Now the highest efficiency of solar cell has reached up to 44% by III-V multi-junction solar cells with concentrator. Those multi-junction solar cells are suitable as energy source for spaceships. On the other hand, the cell efficiency of solar cell for electric power generation as energy source for Earth has is going to be saturated although commercial solar cell efficiency is around 20%. In the part 1 of this article, the history of III-V multi-junction solar cells which have been adapted for spaceships is explained and in the part 2, new approach for the improvement of cell efficiency is suggested as the energy source for Earth.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.45-49
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• 2015

Using a combined CVD and ALD equipment system, multi-layer quantum well structures of $Al_2O_3/a-Si/Al_2O_3$ were fabricated on silicon Schottky junction devices and implemented to quantum well solar cells, in which the 1~1.5 nm thicknesses of the aluminum oxide films and the a-Si thin film layers were deposited at $300^{\circ}C$ and $450^{\circ}C$, respectively. Fabricated solar cell was operated by tunneling phenomena through the inserted quantum well structure being generated electrons on the silicon surface. Efficiency of the fabricated solar cell inserted with multi-quantum well of 41 layers has been increased by about 10 times that of the solar cell of pure Schottky junction solar cell.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 2010

Next generation concentrating photovoltaic technologies could have a large-scale impact on world electricity production once they will become economically attractive and grid parity will be reached. Multi-junction solar cells will be characterised by a high value of the cell economical performance index if the cells were able to operate at high concentration level. Concentrating the sunlight by optical devices like lenses or mirrors reduces the area of expensive solar cells or modules, and, moreover, increases their efficiency. Accurate and reliable tracking is an important issue to maintain high the CPV system output power. Further, for high concentration CPV systems, the actual tracker cost is about 20% of the total CPV system cost. In this paper high-concentration is defined as systems using concentration ratios well above 100 times the one sun intensity and trackerlss CPV system studied. Using sphericalness lens and parallel MJ cell connection method were suggested and achieved experiment on a clear day in summer. Development of these high performance multi-junction CPV module promises to accelerate growth in photovoltaic power generation.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2014

Extensive investigation on silicon based thin film reveals a wide range of film characteristics, from low optical gap to high optical gap, from amorphous to micro-crystalline silicon etc. Fabrication of single junction, tandem and triple junction solar cell with suitable materials, indicate that fabrication of solar cell of a relatively moderate efficiency is possible with a better light induced stability. Due to these investigations, various competing materials like wide band gap silicon carbide and silicon oxide, low band gap micro-crystalline silicon and silicon germanium etc were also prepared and applied to the solar cells. Such a multi-junction solar cell can be a technologically promising photo-voltaic device, as the external quantum efficiency of such a cell covers a wider spectral range.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.95-102
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• 2014

Light trapping techniques can change the propagation direction of incident light and keep the light longer in the absorption layers of solar cells to enhance the power conversion efficiency. In thin film silicon (Si) solar cells, the thickness of absorption layer is generally not enough to absorb entire available photons because of short carrier life time, and light induced degradation effect, which can be compensated by the light trapping techniques. These techniques have been adopted as textured transparent conduction oxide (TCO) layers randomly or periodically textured, intermediate reflection layers of tandem and triple junction, and glass substrates etched by various patterning methods. We reviewed the light trapping techniques for thin film Si solar cells and mainly focused on the commercially available techniques applicable to textured TCO on patterned glass substrates. We described the characterization methods representing the light trapping effects, texturing of TCO and showed the results of multi-scale textured TCO on etched glass substrates. These methods can be used tandem and triple thin film Si solar cells to enhance photo-current and power conversion efficiency of long term stability.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.150-155
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• 2013

Textured surface has been fabricated to reduce the light reflectance from the solar cells. The textured surface is very suitable for the multi-junction III-V solar cells because it can decrease the light reflectance over a large wavelength range. In this study, we have generated a textured structure on InAlP which is used for the window layer of the multi-junction III-V solar cells. Ultra-thin Pt layer (0.7 nm) has been used for wet etching mask. An array of nanosized pyramid shape formed on InAlP surface dramatically reduces the light reflectance up to 13.7% over a large wavelength range (i.e., $0.3{\sim}1.5{\mu}m$).

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.113-121
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• 2017

The researches on the silicon-based thin films are being actively carried out. The silicon-based thin films can be made as amorphous, microcrystalline and mixed phase and it is known that the optical bandgap can be controlled accordingly. They are suitable materials for the fabrication of single junction, tandem and triple junction solar cells. It can be used as a doping layer through the bonding of boron and phosphorus. The carbon and oxygen can bond with silicon to form a wide range of optical gap. Also, The optical gap of hydrogenated amorphous silicon germanium can be lower than that of silicon. By controlling the optical gaps, it is possible to fabricate multi-junction thin film silicon solar cells with high efficiencies which can be promising photovoltaic devices.