Dilute Nitride GaNAsP for High Efficiency Multiband Solar Cells

用于高效多波段太阳能电池的稀氮化物 GaNAsP

• 批准号: 0907652
• 负责人: Charles Tu
• 金额: $ 34.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-San Diego
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-08-15 至 2012-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0907652&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dilute; Nitride; GaNAsP; Efficiency; Multiband

Technical: This research project aims to improve the power conversion efficiency of solar cells by investigating a multiband material, a semiconductor with an intermediate band. Such a material has effectively three absorption bands and a single junction could be equivalent to a more complicated, but high-efficiency, three-junction solar cell. The growth and processing of such a material is a major challenge, along with understanding and modeling of a multiband solar cell. The emphasis of this project is on materials growth and processing of a particular class of materials, dilute nitride GaNAsP, which has an intermediate band so that electrons can be absorbed by below-bandgap photons, be excited to the intermediate band, and on to the conduction band providing current. These below-bandgap photo-excitations are in addition to the absorption of above-bandgap photons to excite electrons from the valence band to the conduction band directly. The PI, his students and collaborators at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will study fundamental aspects of the growth, processing and characterization, with the aim toward greater understanding of fundamental materials science and optimization of the multiband material for solar cell applications. The approach includes fabrication and testing, in comparison with single-band solar cells. Greater understanding of the physical properties of such multiband semiconductors is expected as an outcome, advancing the field generally, and the performance of solar cells. Non-technical: This project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. High-efficiency solar photovoltaic cells have broad potential impact on economy and human life through more efficient electrical energy generation. Compared to single-junction and multijunction solar cells, the multiband solar cells investigated in this project could provide significantly higher efficiency and lower cost. The research activities will promote interdisciplinary training for students in growth and characterization of novel compound semiconductors, prototype solar cell device design, and fabrication. Undergraduate students will also participate in the research project; they will be recruited from various sources, including the McNair Program, which serves low-income students and/or underrepresented minorities. The undergraduate students' activities will include advanced characterizations, such as atomic force microscopy, and participation in various undergraduate research conferences at UCSD. Additionally, the PI is the director of the COSMOS (California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science) residential summer program for 150 high school students. The results of this research project can be incorporated into the curriculum and extend to the high schools through the Teacher Fellow program of COSMOS.

技术：本研究项目旨在通过研究一种多波段材料，一种具有中间波段的半导体，来提高太阳能电池的功率转换效率。这种材料实际上有三个吸收带，一个结相当于一个更复杂但效率更高的三结太阳能电池。这种材料的生长和加工是一个主要的挑战，以及多波段太阳能电池的理解和建模。这个项目的重点是材料的生长和处理一类特殊的材料，稀氮化物GaNAsP，它有一个中间带，所以电子可以被带隙以下的光子吸收，被激发到中间带，然后到传导带提供电流。这些带隙以下的光激发是除了吸收带隙以上的光子外，直接将电子从价带激发到导带。PI、他在国家可再生能源实验室的学生和合作者将研究生长、加工和表征的基本方面，旨在更好地理解基础材料科学和优化太阳能电池应用的多波段材料。与单波段太阳能电池相比，这种方法包括制造和测试。更多地了解这种多波段半导体的物理特性有望成为一个结果，推动该领域的发展，并提高太阳能电池的性能。非技术：该项目涉及材料科学领域的基础研究问题，具有很高的技术相关性。高效太阳能光伏电池通过更高效的发电方式，对经济和人类生活有着广泛的潜在影响。与单结和多结太阳能电池相比，本项目研究的多波段太阳能电池可以提供更高的效率和更低的成本。这些研究活动将促进学生在新型化合物半导体的生长和表征、原型太阳能电池器件的设计和制造方面的跨学科训练。本科生也将参与研究项目；他们将从各种渠道招募，包括为低收入学生和/或代表性不足的少数民族提供服务的麦克奈尔项目。本科生的活动将包括高级表征，如原子力显微镜，并参加加州大学圣地亚哥分校的各种本科生研究会议。此外，PI是COSMOS（加州州立数学和科学暑期学校）的主任，为150名高中生提供住宿暑期课程。本研究成果可纳入课程，并透过COSMOS教师研究员计划推广至高中。