Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells

Emily Warren; Michael Rienaecker; Manuel Schnabel; Michael Deceglie; Robby Peibst; Adele Tamboli; Paul Stradins

doi:10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611

Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells

Emily Warren
, Michael Rienaecker
, Manuel Schnabel
, Michael Deceglie
, Robby Peibst
, Adele Tamboli
, Paul Stradins

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer review

Abstract

Most tandem solar cells are either two-terminal devices where the subcells are electrically connected in series or four terminal devices where each subcell is operated independently. There are trade-offs between the two integration schemes in terms of ease of fabrication, overall efficiency, and spectral sensitivity. Three-terminal (3T) tandem cells can combine the best aspects of both integration schemes if designed properly. Using a 3T design based on an interdigitated back contact (IBC) Si device with conductive front surface, combined with a wider bandgap III-V top cell, we discuss the operation of three terminal tandems in detail. We present technology computer aided design (TCAD) device physics simulations to describe trends in performance. We show that this type of 3T device can provide a robust operating mechanism to efficiently capture the solar spectrum without the need to current match sub-cells or fabricate complicated metal interconnects between cells.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	2648-2650
Number of pages	3
ISBN (Electronic)	9781538685297
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611
Publication status	Published - 26 Nov 2018
Externally published	Yes
Event	7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - Waikoloa Village, United States Duration: 10 Jun 2018 → 15 Jun 2018

Conference

Conference	7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018
Country/Territory	United States
City	Waikoloa Village
Period	10 Jun 2018 → 15 Jun 2018

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

simulation
tandem cell
TCAD
three-terminal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Access to Document

10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611

Cite this

Warren, E., Rienaecker, M., Schnabel, M., Deceglie, M., Peibst, R., Tamboli, A., & Stradins, P. (2018). Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. In 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC (pp. 2648-2650). Article 8547611 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611

@inproceedings{e2517c9a9ace496e97054f71de37e7d7,

title = "Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells",

abstract = "Most tandem solar cells are either two-terminal devices where the subcells are electrically connected in series or four terminal devices where each subcell is operated independently. There are trade-offs between the two integration schemes in terms of ease of fabrication, overall efficiency, and spectral sensitivity. Three-terminal (3T) tandem cells can combine the best aspects of both integration schemes if designed properly. Using a 3T design based on an interdigitated back contact (IBC) Si device with conductive front surface, combined with a wider bandgap III-V top cell, we discuss the operation of three terminal tandems in detail. We present technology computer aided design (TCAD) device physics simulations to describe trends in performance. We show that this type of 3T device can provide a robust operating mechanism to efficiently capture the solar spectrum without the need to current match sub-cells or fabricate complicated metal interconnects between cells.",

keywords = "simulation, tandem cell, TCAD, three-terminal",

author = "Emily Warren and Michael Rienaecker and Manuel Schnabel and Michael Deceglie and Robby Peibst and Adele Tamboli and Paul Stradins",

note = "Funding Information: This work was authored by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office under Contract SETP-DE-EE00030299. Funding for the work at ISFH was provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy,under grant number 324040 (project EASi). The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this work, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 IEEE. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.; 7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 ; Conference date: 10-06-2018 Through 15-06-2018",

year = "2018",

month = nov,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611",

language = "English",

pages = "2648--2650",

booktitle = "2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

address = "United States",

}

Warren, E, Rienaecker, M, Schnabel, M, Deceglie, M, Peibst, R, Tamboli, A & Stradins, P 2018, Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. in 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC., 8547611, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 2648-2650, 7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018, Waikoloa Village, United States, 10 Jun 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611

Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. / Warren, Emily; Rienaecker, Michael; Schnabel, Manuel et al.
2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2018. p. 2648-2650 8547611.

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer review

TY - GEN

T1 - Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells

AU - Warren, Emily

AU - Rienaecker, Michael

AU - Schnabel, Manuel

AU - Deceglie, Michael

AU - Peibst, Robby

AU - Tamboli, Adele

AU - Stradins, Paul

N1 - Funding Information: This work was authored by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office under Contract SETP-DE-EE00030299. Funding for the work at ISFH was provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy,under grant number 324040 (project EASi). The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this work, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 IEEE. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2018/11/26

Y1 - 2018/11/26

N2 - Most tandem solar cells are either two-terminal devices where the subcells are electrically connected in series or four terminal devices where each subcell is operated independently. There are trade-offs between the two integration schemes in terms of ease of fabrication, overall efficiency, and spectral sensitivity. Three-terminal (3T) tandem cells can combine the best aspects of both integration schemes if designed properly. Using a 3T design based on an interdigitated back contact (IBC) Si device with conductive front surface, combined with a wider bandgap III-V top cell, we discuss the operation of three terminal tandems in detail. We present technology computer aided design (TCAD) device physics simulations to describe trends in performance. We show that this type of 3T device can provide a robust operating mechanism to efficiently capture the solar spectrum without the need to current match sub-cells or fabricate complicated metal interconnects between cells.

AB - Most tandem solar cells are either two-terminal devices where the subcells are electrically connected in series or four terminal devices where each subcell is operated independently. There are trade-offs between the two integration schemes in terms of ease of fabrication, overall efficiency, and spectral sensitivity. Three-terminal (3T) tandem cells can combine the best aspects of both integration schemes if designed properly. Using a 3T design based on an interdigitated back contact (IBC) Si device with conductive front surface, combined with a wider bandgap III-V top cell, we discuss the operation of three terminal tandems in detail. We present technology computer aided design (TCAD) device physics simulations to describe trends in performance. We show that this type of 3T device can provide a robust operating mechanism to efficiently capture the solar spectrum without the need to current match sub-cells or fabricate complicated metal interconnects between cells.

KW - simulation

KW - tandem cell

KW - TCAD

KW - three-terminal

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85059897381

U2 - 10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611

DO - 10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85059897381

SP - 2648

EP - 2650

BT - 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 7th IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018

Y2 - 10 June 2018 through 15 June 2018

ER -

Warren E, Rienaecker M, Schnabel M, Deceglie M, Peibst R, Tamboli A et al. Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells. In 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC 2018 - A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC and 34th EU PVSEC. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2018. p. 2648-2650. 8547611 doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2018.8547611

Operating principles of three-terminal solar cells

Abstract

Conference

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this