Localized irradiation effects on tunnel diode transitions in multi-junction concentrator solar cells

Avi Braun; Baruch Hirsch; Eugene A. Katz; Jeffrey M. Gordon; Wolfgang Guter; Andreas W. Bett

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2009.04.022

Localized irradiation effects on tunnel diode transitions in multi-junction concentrator solar cells

Avi Braun, Baruch Hirsch, Eugene A. Katz, Jeffrey M. Gordon, Wolfgang Guter, Andreas W. Bett

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multi-junction concentrator solar cells incorporate tunnel diodes that undergo a transition from high-conductance tunneling to low-conductance thermal diffusion behavior, typically at threshold current densities of the order of 10²-10³ mA/mm². We present experimental evidence of a prominent heretofore unrecognized dependence of threshold current density on the degree of localized irradiation, in different solar cell architectures. We also show that solar cells with non-uniform metallization can exhibit an additional spatial dependence to the tunnel diode threshold current density. These previously undiscovered phenomena - which should be observable in all non-uniformly irradiated photovoltaic tunnel diodes - are interpreted as being derived from the lateral spreading of excess majority carriers (analogous to current spreading in light-emitting diodes (LEDs)). The consequences for concentrator photovoltaics are addressed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1692-1695
Number of pages	4
Journal	Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume	93
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2009.04.022
State	Published - Sep 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
J.M.G. expresses appreciation to SolFocus Inc. of Mountain View, CA for partial funding of this work. B.H. acknowledges Ronen Vaknin of the Israel Electric Corp. for assistance in preparing the 0.2 mm optical fibers. W.G. and A.W.B. gratefully acknowledge partial funding by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) under the ProKonPV project (Contract 0327567). W.G. is supported by a scholarship from the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU).

Funding

J.M.G. expresses appreciation to SolFocus Inc. of Mountain View, CA for partial funding of this work. B.H. acknowledges Ronen Vaknin of the Israel Electric Corp. for assistance in preparing the 0.2 mm optical fibers. W.G. and A.W.B. gratefully acknowledge partial funding by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) under the ProKonPV project (Contract 0327567). W.G. is supported by a scholarship from the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU).

Funders	Funder number
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit
Baqai Medical University	0327567

Keywords

Concentrator
Multi-junction
Photovoltaics
Solar
Tunnel diode

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.solmat.2009.04.022

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title = "Localized irradiation effects on tunnel diode transitions in multi-junction concentrator solar cells",

abstract = "Multi-junction concentrator solar cells incorporate tunnel diodes that undergo a transition from high-conductance tunneling to low-conductance thermal diffusion behavior, typically at threshold current densities of the order of 102-103 mA/mm2. We present experimental evidence of a prominent heretofore unrecognized dependence of threshold current density on the degree of localized irradiation, in different solar cell architectures. We also show that solar cells with non-uniform metallization can exhibit an additional spatial dependence to the tunnel diode threshold current density. These previously undiscovered phenomena - which should be observable in all non-uniformly irradiated photovoltaic tunnel diodes - are interpreted as being derived from the lateral spreading of excess majority carriers (analogous to current spreading in light-emitting diodes (LEDs)). The consequences for concentrator photovoltaics are addressed.",

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note = "Funding Information: J.M.G. expresses appreciation to SolFocus Inc. of Mountain View, CA for partial funding of this work. B.H. acknowledges Ronen Vaknin of the Israel Electric Corp. for assistance in preparing the 0.2 mm optical fibers. W.G. and A.W.B. gratefully acknowledge partial funding by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) under the ProKonPV project (Contract 0327567). W.G. is supported by a scholarship from the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU).",

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AU - Bett, Andreas W.

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N2 - Multi-junction concentrator solar cells incorporate tunnel diodes that undergo a transition from high-conductance tunneling to low-conductance thermal diffusion behavior, typically at threshold current densities of the order of 102-103 mA/mm2. We present experimental evidence of a prominent heretofore unrecognized dependence of threshold current density on the degree of localized irradiation, in different solar cell architectures. We also show that solar cells with non-uniform metallization can exhibit an additional spatial dependence to the tunnel diode threshold current density. These previously undiscovered phenomena - which should be observable in all non-uniformly irradiated photovoltaic tunnel diodes - are interpreted as being derived from the lateral spreading of excess majority carriers (analogous to current spreading in light-emitting diodes (LEDs)). The consequences for concentrator photovoltaics are addressed.

AB - Multi-junction concentrator solar cells incorporate tunnel diodes that undergo a transition from high-conductance tunneling to low-conductance thermal diffusion behavior, typically at threshold current densities of the order of 102-103 mA/mm2. We present experimental evidence of a prominent heretofore unrecognized dependence of threshold current density on the degree of localized irradiation, in different solar cell architectures. We also show that solar cells with non-uniform metallization can exhibit an additional spatial dependence to the tunnel diode threshold current density. These previously undiscovered phenomena - which should be observable in all non-uniformly irradiated photovoltaic tunnel diodes - are interpreted as being derived from the lateral spreading of excess majority carriers (analogous to current spreading in light-emitting diodes (LEDs)). The consequences for concentrator photovoltaics are addressed.

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Localized irradiation effects on tunnel diode transitions in multi-junction concentrator solar cells

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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