Degradation of Ge subcells by thermal load during the growth of multijunction solar cells. (17th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barrigón, Enrique; Ochoa, Mario; García, Ivan; Barrutia, Laura; Algora, Carlos; Rey‐Stolle, Ignacio
• Is Part Of: Progress in photovoltaics. Volume 26:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 102
• Page End: 111
• Publication Date: 2017-10-17
• Subjects: Ge solar cells -- multijunction solar cells -- thermal degradation -- thermal load; Solar cells -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic cells -- Periodicals; Solar power plants -- Periodicals; 621.31245
• DOI: 10.1002/pip.2948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1062-7995

Abstract

Abstract: Germanium solar cells are used as bottom subcells in many multijunction solar cell designs. The question remains whether the thermal load originated by the growth of the upper layers of the multijunction solar cell structure affects the Ge subcell performance. Here, we report and analyze the performance degradation of the Ge subcell due to such thermal load in lattice‐matched GaInP/Ga(In)As/Ge triple‐junction solar cells. Specifically, we have detected a quantum efficiency loss in the wavelength region corresponding to the emitter layer (which accounts for up to 20% loss in equivalent J SC ) and up to 55 mV loss in V OC of the Ge subcell as compared with analogous devices grown as single‐junction Ge solar cells on the same type of substrates. We prove experimentally that there is no direct correlation between the loss in V OC and the doping level of the base. Our simulations show that both the J SC and V OC losses are consistent with a degradation of the minority carrier properties at the emitter, in particular at the initial nanometers of the emitter next to the emitter/window heterointerface. In addition, we also rule out the gradual emitter profile shape as the origin of the degradation observed. Our findings underscore the potential to obtain higher efficiencies in Ge‐based multijunction solar cells if strategies to mitigate the impact of the thermal load are taken into consideration. Abstract : During the growth of Ge‐based multijunction solar cells, the Ge subcell suffers performance degradation. In lattice‐matched GaInP/GaInAs/Ge multijunction solar cells, we observed a 20% and a 24% relative loss in J SC and V OC, respectively, together with a significant change in both the emitter depth and doping profile. According to our numerical simulation, the QE degradation and V OC drop are mainly attributed to extremely poor minority carrier properties at the gradual emitter zone acting as an almost dead layer.