The application of quantum well solar cells to thermophotovoltaics
Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
1-1998
Abstract
We discuss the advantages of quantum well solar cells (QWSCs) for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications and illustrate them with InP/lnGaAs and GaInAsP/InGaAs QWSCs which were designed for other applications and have not been optimised for TPV. It is shown that an InP p-i-n solar cell with 15 lattice matched InGaAs quantum wells (QWs) in the i region has an increase in open circuit voltage (V-oc) of (1.7 +/- 0.1) times that of a control cell of InP with InGaAs in the i-region under an illuminating spectrum close to that expected from an ideal ytterbia emitter. Also, using an InGaAsP quaternary cell of band gap wavelength of 1.1 mu m with 60 InGaAs QWs under the same illuminating spectrum the current density is increased by a factor of (2.4 +/- 0.1) over that of the InP QWSC. The quaternary cell also absorbs longer wavelengths without any significant loss in V-oc. Better temperature coefficients for the former quantum well solar cell than the control cell are observed in a spectrum approximating a black body at 3000 K. Further advantages of QWs for narrow band and broad band illuminating spectra are discussed.
Keywords
quantum well solar cells, thermophotovoltaics
Discipline
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Research Areas
Information Systems and Management
Publication
Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume
50
Issue
1-4
First Page
213
Last Page
219
ISSN
0927-0248
Identifier
10.1016/S0927-0248(97)00150-5
Citation
GRIFFIN, Paul Robert; Ballard, I.; Barnham, K.; Nelson, J.; Zachariou, A.; Epler, J.; Hill, G.; Button, C.; and Pate, M..
The application of quantum well solar cells to thermophotovoltaics. (1998). Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 50, (1-4), 213-219.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/3237
Additional URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0927-0248(97)00150-5