Background
Solar energy is one of the most abundant and affordable energies in the world. However, converting solar energy into electricity significantly relies on the power conversion efficiency of the solar cell’s technology. Due to the current limitations of the various materials and physics in the solar cell’s technology, it is a great challenge to further improve the single junction solar cells (type of solar cell that is made from a single layer of a semiconductor material) technology including the Silicon (Si) (first-generation), CdTe (second generation), and perovskite (third generation) solar cell technology. Each of these solar cell designs faces challenges to overcome the theoretical maximum efficiency of the single junction solar cell (SQ Limit). For example, when too much energy is generated, the cell overheats leading to severe consequences. Currently, Si solar technology dominates the solar panel market.
Invention Description
Researchers at Arizona State University and the University of Toledo have developed a new technology that allows single junction solar cells to further their efficiency limit getting closer to the theorized efficiency limit. This is exemplified by combining Si, CdTe, and hybrid metal halide perovskite solar cells to maximize sunlight absorption. These three solar technologies can be built together with a suitable bandgap (energy range in a solid material where electrons cannot exist) with existing manufacturing techniques.
Potential Applications:
- Solar panels & technologies
Benefits and Advantages:
- Utilizes current low-cost manufacturing techniques
- High efficiency solar cell technology that is not currently available in the market
- Fabrication will not impact previous cells due to fabrication temperature gradients