Collaborative Research: Novel Multijunction Solar Cells for Space and Terrestrial Applications

亚利桑那州立大学和圣母大学之间的合作研究项目的目标是探索新的多结太阳能电池设计，为空间和地面应用提供超高效率。该方法的智能优点是使用在GaSb上生长的晶格匹配II/VI (MgZnCd)（SeTe）和III/V （AlGaAsSb）材料体系来演示具有更多结的设计，以实现转换效率的突破。在设备演示之前，大量的研究工作将集中在II/VI (MgZnCd)（SeTe）材料的掺杂研究上。探索各种兴奋剂来源和方法。在p型和n型掺杂的成功演示之后，将仔细研究p-n结和隧道结，然后将其最终集成到新器件设计中。将进行器件测试以将性能与理论预测进行比较。本研究的广泛影响包括了解所提出的新材料系统的特性及其在超高效率多结太阳能电池中的应用，这不仅可以减少航天器的发射有效载荷，还可以使地面聚光光伏系统最大限度地减少整体晶圆需求和成本，从目前的75%下降到10%或更低。由于所提出的材料系统独特地提供非常宽的波长覆盖范围，从紫外到红外，它们也可以用于全彩led，多色光电探测器和其他光电器件。该项目将培养1.5名博士生，并向国内多结太阳能电池公司和当地社区伸出援助之手。

The objective of this collaborative research project between Arizona State University and Notre Dame University is to explore novel multijunction solar cell designs that offer ultra-high efficiencies for both space and terrestrial applications.The intellectual merit of the approach is to use lattice-matched II/VI (MgZnCd)(SeTe) and III/V (AlGaAsSb) material systems grown on GaSb to demonstrate the designs with an increased number of junctions to realize breakthroughs in conversion efficiency. Before the device demonstration, very substantial research effort will be focused on the study of the doping in the II/VI (MgZnCd)(SeTe) materials. Various doping sources and methods will be explored. After the successful demonstration of both p- and n-types of doping, p-n junctions and tunnel junctions will be carefully studied before the final integration of them into new device designs. Device testing will be carried out to compare the performance with the theoretical predictions.The broader impacts of this study include the understanding of the properties of the proposed new material systems and their application to ultrahigh efficiency multijunction solar cells, which can not only reduce the spacecraft launch payload but also enable the terrestrial concentrating photovoltaics systems to minimize the overall wafer demand and cost, from currently 75% down to 10% or less. Since the proposed material systems uniquely offer very broad wavelength coverage, from UV to IR, they can also be used for full-color LEDs, multicolor photodetectors, and other optoelectronic devices. The program will train 1.5 Ph.D. students and reach out to domestic multi-junction solar cell companies and local communities.