Modeling of tunnel junctions for high efficiency solar cells

Abstract

Ultrahigh efficiency, in the range of 40%, can be achieved in multijunction solar cells operating at high solar concentrations, larger than 100 suns. Critical to this approach are high band gap tunnel junctions that serve as electrically low loss interconnections between the cells. The purpose of this work is to theoretically model such wide band gap tunnel junctions and to explore the advantages of a staggered band line up for improving the peak tunnel current. Theoretical results are calculated for heterojunction diodes made of n+-InGaP/p+-AlGaAs over a range of doping levels. The results illustrate the advantage of a conduction band discontinuity in achieving low interconnect resistance for multijunction solar cells.