Implementation of Intermediate-Band Solar Cells using Multi-Band Semiconductors

使用多波段半导体实现中波段太阳能电池

• 批准号: 0932905
• 负责人: Junqiao Wu
• 金额: $ 35万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0932905&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Implementation; Intermediate; Band; Solar; Cells

0932905WuThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).SummaryThe project is aimed at the full demonstration of an intermediate-band solar cell based on the recently discovered multi-band semiconductor alloy AlyGa1-yAs1-xNx. The research to be undertaken targets fundamental questions in photovoltaics science and technology. Can the Shockley-Queisser limit of photovoltaic efficiency in a single p-n junction be overcome? What new paradigms in solar-cell operation can be realized in a single-phase material through electronic structure engineering? The broader objectives of this program are to train undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers in a collaborative environment, to transfer research innovations and concepts in energy science and policy to the classroom, and to engage the surrounding community, specifically elementary school children, in discussions and learning around energy sustainability and the role of technology. Intellectual Merit. If successful, this research program will lead to the highest ever photovoltaic efficiency, exceeding 35%, in single-junction, single-phase solar cells. Such an achievement would produce significant advancements in the understanding of solar cells based on intermediate bands - a promising device architecture that has been predicted but not yet demonstrated to yield high energy conversion efficiency, hence, potentially at much lower cost than highly efficient multi-junction solar cells. Demonstration of an intermediate-band solar cell using the multi-band semiconductor AlyGa1-yAs1-xNx epitaxially integrated into a conventional p-n junction will promote innovations in semiconductor thin-film growth and device processing. New knowledge concerning the materials physics of the multi-band semiconductors will be gained. The interaction of such a multi-band system with broad-spectrum photons has not been fully characterized and understood. Therefore, a significant portion of the proposed activities will be devoted to elucidating the photo-physics and thermodynamics of charge carriers in this novel materials system.Broader Impacts. The transformation of sunlight into electrical energy using photovoltaics has captured the imagination of not only scientists, engineers and technologists but also the public at large. Solar cell research provides exciting opportunities to engage future innovators in energy science and technology at all levels. The proposed research and education program at U.C. Berkeley will provide invaluable training and opportunities for learning to students at all stages, from elementary school to the postdoctoral level, in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an emerging industry, energy technology will experience tremendous growth, making the infusion of diversity now a critical action. The proposed outreach activities will be targeted to promoting diversity in the energy sector by the training and mentoring of scholars from diverse backgrounds.

这个奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助的。摘要该项目旨在全面展示基于最近发现的多波段半导体合金AlyGa1-yAs1-xNx的中波段太阳能电池。将进行的研究针对光伏科学和技术中的基本问题。单个p-n结中光伏效率的肖克利-奎瑟极限能被克服吗？通过电子结构工程可以在单相材料中实现太阳能电池运行的哪些新范式？该项目更广泛的目标是在协作环境中培训本科生和研究生以及博士后研究人员，将能源科学和政策方面的研究创新和概念转移到课堂上，并让周围社区，特别是小学生，参与围绕能源可持续性和技术作用的讨论和学习。智力上的功绩。如果成功，这项研究计划将导致单结、单相太阳能电池有史以来最高的光伏效率，超过35%。这样的成就将在理解基于中间带的太阳能电池方面产生重大进步--一种有希望的设备架构，已被预测但尚未证明能产生高能量转换效率，因此，可能比高效的多结太阳能电池的成本低得多。使用多波段半导体AlyGa1-yAs1-xNx外延集成到传统p-n结中的中间波段太阳能电池的演示将促进半导体薄膜生长和器件加工方面的创新。将获得有关多带半导体材料物理的新知识。这种多波段系统与广谱光子的相互作用还没有得到充分的表征和理解。因此，拟议活动的很大一部分将致力于阐明这一新材料系统中电荷载流子的光物理和热力学。利用光伏将阳光转化为电能不仅吸引了科学家、工程师和技术专家的想象力，也吸引了广大公众的想象力。太阳能电池研究提供了令人兴奋的机会，让未来的创新者参与到各个层面的能源科学和技术中来。加州大学伯克利分校拟议的研究和教育项目将为旧金山湾区从小学到博士后水平的所有阶段的学生提供宝贵的培训和学习机会。作为一个新兴行业，能源技术将经历巨大的增长，使多样性的注入现在成为一项关键行动。拟议的外联活动将通过培训和辅导来自不同背景的学者来促进能源部门的多样性。