Title: Performance improvement of a triple-junction GaAs-based solar cell using a SiO₂-nanopillar/SiO₂/TiO₂ graded-index antireflection coating

Authors: Jheng-Jie Liu; Wen-Jeng Ho; Jhih-Kai Syu; Yi-Yu Lee; Ching-Fuh Lin; Hung-Pin Shiao

Addresses: Department of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan ' Department of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan ' Department of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan ' Department of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan ' Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan ' Win Semiconductor Corp., Tao Yuan 333, Taiwan

Abstract: In this study, the enhanced performance of a triple-junction GaAs-based solar cell using a SiO₂-nanopillar/SiO₂/TiO₂ graded-index antireflection coating (GI-ARC) was demonstrated. The optical reflectance, photovoltaic current-voltage (I-V), and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of a cell with a SiO₂/TiO₂ double-layer (DL) ARC and a cell with a GI-ARC were measured and compared. The cell with a GI-ARC exhibited the lowest optical reflectance. Thus, the average EQE enhancements (ΔEQE) of the cell with a GI-ARC compared to the cell with a DL-ARC were 5.88% for the top cell and −1.56% for the middle cell. In addition, a small difference in the photocurrent generated between the top cell and the middle cell was achieved. Finally, an additional 0.52% increase (from 24.99% to 25.51%) in conversion efficiency was obtained.

Keywords: current matching; external quantum efficiency; graded-index antireflection coating; SiO2 nanopillars; silicon dioxide; silica; triple-junction solar cells; nanoelectronics; nanotechnology; gallium arsenide; GaAs; optical reflectance; photovoltaic current voltage; photocurrent; conversion efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2014.059832

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014 Vol.11 No.1/2/3/4, pp.311 - 321

Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

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