Performance Optimization of the InGaP/GaAs Dual-Junction Solar Cell Using SILVACO TCAD

Salem, Marwa S.; Saif, Omar M.; Shaker, Ahmed; Abouelatta, Mohamed; Alzahrani, Abdullah J.; Alanazi, Adwan; Elsaid, M. K.; Ramadan, Rabie A.

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8842975

International Journal of Photoenergy

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Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2021 | Article ID 8842975 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8842975

Performance Optimization of the InGaP/GaAs Dual-Junction Solar Cell Using SILVACO TCAD

Marwa S. Salem,^1,2Omar M. Saif,³Ahmed Shaker,⁴Mohamed Abouelatta,⁵Abdullah J. Alzahrani,¹Adwan Alanazi,¹M. K. Elsaid,⁵and Rabie A. Ramadan^1,6

Academic Editor: Elias Stathatos

Received06 Jul 2020

Revised31 Dec 2020

Accepted08 Feb 2021

Published19 Feb 2021

Abstract

In this work, an optimization of the InGaP/GaAs dual-junction (DJ) solar cell performance is presented. Firstly, a design for the DJ solar cell based on the GaAs tunnel diode is provided. Secondly, the used device simulator is calibrated with recent experimental results of an InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell. After that, the optimization of the DJ solar cell performance is carried out for two different materials of the top window layer, AlGaAs and AlGaInP. For AlGaAs, the optimization is carried out for the following: aluminum (Al) mole fraction, top window thickness, top base thickness, and bottom BSF doping and thickness. The electrical performance parameters of the optimized cell are extracted: , , , and the conversion efficiency () equals 36.71%. By using AlGaInP as a top cell window, the electrical performance parameters for the optimized cell are , , , and . So, AlGaInP is found to be the optimum material for the InGaP/GaAs DJ cell top window layer as it gives 4% higher conversion efficiency under 1 sun of the standard AM1.5G solar spectrum at 300 K in comparison with recent literature results. All optimization steps and simulation results are carried out using the SLVACO TCAD tool.

1. Introduction

There has been a trend for shifting energy production by renewable energy resources especially solar energy which is considered the most favorable resource as it is safe and clean [1, 2]. There are many emerging technologies to capture the energy from the sun [3, 4]. Photovoltaic technology is the most widely used technology [5–8]. Among photovoltaic technologies, the multijunction solar cell gives higher efficiency in comparison with the silicon-based solar cells [9]. The multijunction solar cells’ idea depends on stacking p-n junctions with different bandgaps which permits the absorbance of a wider range of wavelengths [10, 11]. Among the multijunction solar cells, the III-V semiconductor compound-based solar cells are the commercially available cells with the highest reported efficiency [12, 13] reaching 46% under high solar concentration [2, 3]. In this regard, the InGaP alloy is a vital material for high-efficiency solar cells as it absorbs the visible part of the solar spectrum [14–16]. Besides, the GaAs compound (1.42 eV) absorbs the Near-Infrared Region (NIR) of the spectrum. Therefore, the lattice-matched In_0.49Ga_0.51P grown on the GaAs substrate has great technological importance as the InGaP/GaAs solar cell structure absorbs a substantial part of the spectrum [15, 17]. So, InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cells have been widely studied due to their superb bandgap arrangement in lattice-matched systems [18].

In 2006, Lueck et al. designed a dual-junction InGaP/GaAs solar cell exhibiting an efficiency of about 23.6% at 1 sun concentration [19]. A few years later, Leem et al. modeled and simulated InGaP/GaAs dual-junction solar cells using the InGaP/InGaP tunnel junction having an efficiency of 25.28% at AM1.5G [20]. In 2011, Singh and Sarkar developed an effective approach for highly efficient solar cells using virtual wafer fabrication (VWF) tools. The maximum conversion efficiency achieved from such an approach is 32.20% and 36.67% at 1 sun and 1000 suns, respectively. Such efficiencies were obtained under AM1.5G illumination [21]. Singh and Sarkar, in 2012, devised an ARC-less InGaP/GaAs cell having an optimized In_0.5(Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5P bottom BSF layer. Regarding this structure, the cell parameters , , and were found under AM1.5G illumination and the maximum efficiency was 32.196% and 36.678% for 1 sun and 1000 suns, respectively [22]. In 2015, a GaInP/GaAs DJ cell was simulated employing the SILVACO TCAD device simulator tool by Nayak et al. The simulation gave , , and revealing a maximum efficiency of 34.52% and 39.15% at 1 sun and 1000 suns, respectively [23].

In recent research studies, a double-layer back surface field (BSF) is included in both the top and bottom layers of the DJ solar cell. Thus, the performance of the InGaP/GaAs cell is enhanced due to the improvement in the collection of photogenerated minority carriers. In addition, the efficiency of such a cell was optimized to 40.879% (1000 suns) by varying the thicknesses of the top BSF layer [24]. In addition, Chee and Hu modeled and numerically simulated an InGaP/GaAs DJ cell [25]. The mentioned study focused on varying some design parameters like tunnel junction materials and back surface field layer composition and thickness yielding of 20.71 mA/cm², of 2.44 V, and FF of 88.6% and guaranteeing a maximum efficiency of 32.4% under 1 sun AM0 illumination. Also, Djaafar and Hadri studied the variation of thickness and doping concentration of the emitter and the base in addition to the molar fraction of the emitter to optimize the performance of InGaP/GaAs. The optimization at 300 K led to of 15.19 mA/cm², of 2.53 V, FF of 91.32%, and an efficiency of 25.43% [26]. In 2019, Hungyo et al. optimized the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell by varying the emitter and base thicknesses alongside temperature variation [27]. Furthermore, Oshima et al. inspected experimentally the growth of InGaP on the GaAs substrate by Solid-Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy (SS-MBE). They found an increase in the open-circuit voltage of InGaP from 1.243 V to 1.311 V. Using such a design, the highest 25.57% efficiency could be obtained for the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell [15]. Moreover, InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cells have been fabricated using hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) [28]. The open-circuit voltage was measured as 1.339 V and 0.978 V for individually InGaP and GaAs subcells, respectively. Hence, the total is 2.318 V yielding 21.89% conversion efficiency.

As mentioned above, many research works have been conducted to increase the efficiency of the InGaP/GaAs DJ cells; however, more efforts are still required to get higher efficiencies. The complexity of the DJ cell structures, due to their many layers parameters, makes it difficult to optimize the performance experimentally. So, numerical TCAD simulations are very helpful to optimize the cell performance and to understand the major physical behaviors, thus decreasing the development time and cost. An effective window layer is a crucial structural element for a high-efficiency multijunction cell. The main contribution of this work is to optimize the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell performance for two different top window layers, AlGaAs and AlGaInP. We give a comprehensive comparison between the two materials to show the criteria for choosing the best top window layer material. Thus, the optimum top window layer, which gives the maximum efficiency, is determined.

The remainder of the paper is arranged as follows. Firstly, in Section 2, the design of our InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell is illustrated. Besides, the simulation models and calibration vs. measurements are provided. Then, in Section 3, the optimization of the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell performance is accomplished numerically considering the two different materials of the top window layer: AlGaAs and AlGaInP. For each window layer case, the optimization technique is organized as follows: the composition of the top window material is optimized. Using the optimized value of the composition, the top window layer thickness is optimized and then the top base thickness is tuned. Furthermore, the bottom BSF optimum doping and thickness are investigated to obtain the maximum allowable conversion efficiency. Next, the - characteristic, - curve, and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the two optimized InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cells are provided. In addition, the electrostatic potential and photogeneration rates are presented. Finally, a comparison between the performances of the two optimized InGaP/GaAs DJ solar structures is utilized and the optimum material for the top window layer is selected. Moreover, in Section 4, the performance of the optimum InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell structure is compared with the recent previous studies. Finally, a summary of the essential findings and conclusions of this work is drawn in Section 5. All simulations are performed using SILVACO TCAD.

2. Design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell

In this section, firstly, the design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell structure is presented. Secondly, the required physical models for the solar cell design are explained. Finally, the selected materials with their required parameters used for the solar cell design are illustrated.

2.1. The InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell Structure

Figure 1 shows the basic structure of the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell. Figure 1(a) shows the different layers of the structure while Figure 1(b) illustrates the cell structure using the SILVACO TCAD tool. As shown in Figure 1(a), the structure consists of the InGaP top cell and GaAs bottom cell. Both the top and bottom cells consist of five layers: window, p-type emitter, n-type base, and two BSF layers. To enhance the performance of the structure, the top and bottom cells are connected through a GaAs/GaAs tunnel diode which must be transparent. It has not absorbed any part of the input solar radiation spectrum from the bottom side. Such requirements are achieved by satisfying two designing conditions. The first condition is that the diode has to be heavily doped. The second condition is that both the n-side and the p-side of the diode have to be very thin, in the nanometer range [29].

(a)

(b)

2.2. Physical Models for the Design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell

The simulation of the DJ solar cell is performed by using the SILVACO ATLAS tool. In order to optimize the solar cell effectively, the physical models incorporated in the simulation should be selected carefully. The main physical models used for the design of any solar cell are concentration-dependent low field mobility, optical recombination, Shockley-Read-Hall, Auger recombination, and Fermi statistics. Regarding the DJ cell, the nonlocal band-to-band tunneling should be enabled in order to model the tunneling through the tunnel junction between the top and bottom cells. Table 1 summarizes the physical models used for designing the DJ solar cell in the SILVACO ATLAS simulator [30].

2.3. The Selected Materials for the Design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell

To design an optimized DJ solar cell, the materials used for each of its five layers should be selected and their parameters have to be determined. For both the top and bottom window materials, its lattice constant should be matched with the emitter material. In addition, it must have a wide energy gap compared with the emitter material [31]. There are different materials used for the design of the top window layer such as Al_(x)Ga_(1-x)As and (Al_(x)Ga_(1-x))_(1-y)In_yP. These materials satisfy the design requirements.

For the top and bottom cells, the emitter and base materials are InGaP and GaAs, respectively. These materials are selected such that the energy gap of the top cell is higher than that of the bottom cell. Therefore, the top cell absorbs the short wavelengths and the bottom cell absorbs the long wavelengths of the input solar radiation spectrum [23, 32]. The material of the two BSF layers is selected to passivate the surface recombination among the base of the top cell and the emitter of the GaAs tunnel diode. Also, it has to passivate the tunnel diode contact and the substrate of the bottom cell [23, 24]. The materials of the two BSF layers must be lattice-matched with the GaAs of both the top and bottom cells having a higher energy gap compared with the base of the bottom cell. Both (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P and GaAs satisfy the design requirements of the BSF. Table 2 summarizes the main required parameters of the optimum selected materials which are used for the design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell. The materials’ parameters shown in the table are the used parameters for the simulation of the DJ solar cell using the SILVACO ATLAS device simulator.

2.4. SILVACO ATLAS TCAD Tool Calibration

Before starting the optimization procedure for the InGaP/GaAs cell performance, the used device simulator, SILVACO ATLAS TCAD tool, is calibrated with recent experimental results of an InGaP/GaAs cell [36]. The tool is calibrated by using the same parameters of the reference solar cell. Thus, the tool calibration includes the same materials, thicknesses, and doping concentrations for all layers. Also, the calibration procedure utilizes the same physical models for the reference InGaP/GaAs cell. Table 3 shows that the simulation results for the calibrated solar cell are close to the measurements presented in the reference solar cell [36].

3. Performance Optimization of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell Using Two Different Top Window Layers

The top widow layer of the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell effectively affects its overall performance significantly. There are different materials used as the top window layer. Both Al_(x)Ga_(1-x)As and (Al_(x)Ga_(1-x))_(1-y)In_yP used as these materials satisfy the design requirements and allow the performance enhancement of the InGaP/GaAs cell [31, 37, 38].

In this section, the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell performance is optimized regarding the two different materials of the top window layer: AlGaAs and AlGaInP. For each top window layer, the optimization of its parameters required for enhancing the DJ solar cell performance is illustrated. A comparison between using AlGaAs and using AlGaInP as the DJ solar cell top window layer is presented. Thus, the layer which achieves better performance and gives higher efficiency is selected as the optimum top window layer for the DJ solar cell.

3.1. Using AlGaAs as the Top Window Layer

In this section, simulations are carried out by utilizing AlGaAs as the material for the top window layer. Firstly, the optimization of the mole fraction for Al is investigated. Secondly, the optimization of the top window layer thickness is inspected. Then, the top base layer thickness is adjusted. After that, the optimization of the bottom BSF layer doping and thickness is performed. Then, the optimum performance of the DJ solar cell using AlGaAs is compared with the results of the optimized structure used for calibration. Finally, the - characteristic, - curve, external quantum efficiency (EQE), and generation rates of the optimized cell are reported.

3.1.1. Al Mole Fraction Optimization

It is important to select the best mole fraction () value for the compound semiconductor to satisfy the lattice matching between the different alloys [39, 40]. The refractive index () and the extinction coefficient () of the compound semiconductor vary based on its mole fraction [41]. Thus, to achieve the best values of such parameters which enhance the solar cell performance, the mole fraction of the compound semiconductor has to be optimized. Six values of the AlGaAs mole fraction are studied, and the efficiency of the InGaP/GaAs DJ cell is extracted for each value as shown in Figure 2. It can be inferred from the figure that the maximum efficiency of 35.22% occurs at equals 0.8. Thus, the optimum compound of the AlGaAs which gives the maximum efficiency of the DJ solar cell is Al_0.8Ga_0.2As.

3.1.2. Optimization of the Top Window Layer Thickness

There are two main objectives of using the top window layer in the DJ solar cell. Firstly, it is used to reduce the surface recombination of the solar cell [7, 42]. Secondly, it must be transparent to enable the absorption of the whole input solar radiation spectrum [7, 31]. The first objective is achieved by optimizing the doping concentration of the top window layer. The optimum doping concentration for such a layer is [20–24]. The second objective is satisfied by optimizing the layer thickness. Figure 3 shows the efficiency of the presented cell at different studied values of the top window layer thickness. The optimum thickness is 0.01 μm which gives 35.22% efficiency.

3.1.3. The Optimization of the Top Base Layer Thickness

Generally, in the solar cell design, the optimum base thickness should be less than the carrier diffusion length. So, the light-generated carriers are separated and collected by the solar cell p-n junction before recombination [6, 42]. The same concept is applied for the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell. The top base in the solar cell structure is n-type with 10¹⁸ cm^-3 doping. Figure 4 presents the efficiency of the DJ solar cell vs. the variation in the top base thickness. Based on this simulation, the thickness of 0.4 μm is chosen as an optimum thickness as it gives 35.9% efficiency.

3.1.4. Optimization of the Bottom BSF Layer Doping and Thickness

The main objective of the bottom BSF layer is the passivation of the solar cell back surface to reduce its surface recombination [43]. There are two main requirements for achieving such an objective. Firstly, the thickness of the BSF layer has to be relatively high to enhance the light absorption. Theoretically, there is a certain thickness of the BSF layer at which all the light will be absorbed. At such thickness, the DJ solar cell efficiency can reach its maximum. Beyond this thickness, there is a negligible change in the solar cell efficiency [35]. Figure 5(a) shows the efficiency of the DJ solar cell for different values of the bottom BSF layer thickness. As can be depicted, the efficiency increases when the layer thickness varies from 0.3 μm to 1 μm. Then, the efficiency is nearly fixed to its optimum value, 36.6%. Thus, the optimum bottom BSF layer thickness is 1 μm.

(a)

(b)

Further, the doping of the bottom BSF layer should be high [44]. Figure 5(b) illustrates the efficiency of the DJ solar cell variation w.r.t the bottom BSF layer doping concentration. The optimum doping concentration is , which is the highest doping that gives an efficiency of 36.7%.

3.1.5. Electrical and Optical Performance

The simulated - characteristic and - curve using Al_0.8Ga_0.2As as the top window material are presented in Figure 6(a). The extracted electrical performance parameters of this optimized DJ solar cell from its - characteristics are , , , and a conversion efficiency . Moreover, from the - curve, the maximum power is 36.74 mW/cm². Also, the voltage at which the maximum power occurred is 2.1 V. At this point, the maximum current density is 17.49 mA/cm².

(a)

(b)

In order to measure the optical performance, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) is presented [23]. For the presented DJ InGaP/GaAs cell, the InGaP top cell is responsible for the collection of the first part of the input solar radiation spectrum while the GaAs bottom cell is responsible for the absorption of the long wavelengths based on its energy gap [20]. Figure 6(b) illustrates the simulation of the optimized DJ solar cell EQE under AM1.5G illumination. It is obvious that the InGaP top cell absorbs the photons for the wavelength in the range of 0.3 to 0.65 μm. Regarding the GaAs bottom cell, it absorbs the wavelengths between 0.65 and 0.9 μm.

To give physical insight into the behavior of the cell, Figure 7(a) shows a cutline view of the electrostatic potential whereas Figure 7(b) depicts a detailed photogeneration rate across the device length. The electrostatic potential is maximum at the tunnel junction region. Also, the maximum photogeneration rate occurs at the surface of the device as it is exposed to the maximum solar radiation.

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(b)

3.2. Using AlGaInP as the Top Window Layer

In this section, the performance optimization of the InGaP/GaAs DJ cell is carried out by using AlGaInP as the top window layer. The same optimization steps of the previous section are carried out except that the optimum Al mole fraction is selected from a recent research work [24, 44], (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P. The window layer thickness, top base thickness, bottom BSF layer thickness, and doping are optimized to get the maximum possible efficiency. Then, the - and - characteristics are presented along with the EQE and the electrostatic potential and photogeneration rate.

3.2.1. Optimization of Different Layers

Figure 8 shows the impact of the top window layer thickness on efficiency. The maximum efficiency is 35.726% which occurs at an optimized thickness of 0.03 μm. Further, Figure 9 shows the influence of the top base thickness on the efficiency. It is obvious from the figure that the optimum top base thickness is 0.4 μm at which the efficiency is 36.5%.

Regarding the bottom BSF layer, its thickness and doping are to be optimized as in the previous section. Figure 10 shows the influence of the bottom BSF layer thickness (Figure 10(a)) and doping (Figure 10(b)) on the efficiency. As indicated in Figure 10(a), the efficiency increases as the layer thickness varies from 0.2 μm to 1 μm. Beyond the thickness of 1 μm, the efficiency is nearly unchanged. Thus, an optimum thickness of the bottom BSF layer is 1 μm at 38.15% efficiency. As can be deduced from Figure 11(b), the efficiency rises as the doping of the bottom BSF layer increases. So, the optimum doping concentration is , which is the maximum allowable doping concentration of n-type [45, 46], which gives 38.53% efficiency.

(a)

(b)

(a)

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3.2.2. Electrical and Optical Performance

Figure 11(a) shows the simulated - characteristic and - curve of the optimized DJ cell using (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P. The extracted electrical performance parameters are , , , and . From the - curve, the maximum power obtained is 38.56 mW/cm². Also, the voltage at which the maximum power occurred is 2.1 V and the maximum current density is 18.81 mA/cm². Finally, Figure 11(b) shows the simulation of the optimized EQE using (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P under AM1.5G illumination. The InGaP top cell absorbs the photons for the wavelength in the range of 0.3 to 0.65 μm while the GaAs bottom cell absorbs the wavelengths between 0.65 and 0.9 μm.

For a physical understanding of some phenomena occurring inside the DJ cell, the electrostatic potential and photogeneration rate through the cell length are plotted in Figure 12. Figure 12(a) shows a cutline view of the electrostatic potential in the different layers where the maximum potential is at the tunnel junction region and it decreases when moving away from the tunnel junction. Figure 12(b) shows a cutline view of the photogeneration rate along with the cell depth. Regarding the BSF layers, they reduce the scattering of charge carriers; this means there is an accumulation of charge carriers near the BSF layers. Thus, the photogeneration rate increases at the BSF layers as can be depicted in the figure. So, these layers passivate the surface recombination between the base of the top cell and the emitter of the tunnel diode as well as the tunnel diode contact and the substrate of the bottom cell.

(a)

(b)

3.3. Comparison between Using Al_0.8Ga_0.2As and (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P as the Top Window Layer

Table 4 shows a summary for the extracted electrical performance parameters for both the optimized InGaP/GaAs DJ cells using the two different top window layers, Al_0.8Ga_0.2As and (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P. From the table, it is obvious that the overall performance of the InGaP/GaAs cell is enhanced by using (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P over Al_0.8Ga_0.2As as the cell efficiency increases by 1.82%.

Thus, the (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P is found to be superior to Al_0.8Ga_0.2As as a top window layer material. The reason is that it has a wider and direct bandgap (2.3 eV) rather than the indirect bandgap of Al_0.8Ga_0.2As (2.09 eV). Thus, (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P has the advantage of being more transparent to light. Moreover, it has less surface recombination loss over Al_0.8Ga_0.2As. This result is clear in the EQE curve using the two different top window layers (see Figures 6(b) and 11(b)). It is obvious that the external quantum yield in the short wavelength region of the spectrum is substantially lower for the solar structure with Al_0.8Ga_0.2As as a top window compared to that having an (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P as a top window. In addition, the for the structure with Al_0.8Ga_0.2As as a top window is more dependent on the surface-state density than (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P [47]. This is because the conduction band offset at the Al_0.8Ga_0.2As/InGaP interface causes band bending in the InGaP emitter which stimulates carrier recombination at the interface. This band bending is less pronounced when using (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P as a top window layer [47] which leads to less sensitivity to surface-state density. This is the reason that the improvement by using (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P as a top window is mainly observed in the short-circuit current density and hence the cell efficiency.

As a conclusion, the (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P proved to be a superior choice for the top window layer for the InGaP/GaAs cell exhibiting 38.53% efficiency, more than the Al_0.8Ga_0.2As efficiency by 1.82%. Thus, the (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P is selected to be the optimum top window layer material for the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell.

4. Comparing the Performance of the Optimum InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell Structure with the Recent Research Studies

Table 5 summarizes the electrical performance parameters of the optimized InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell using Al_0.8Ga_0.2As and (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P. As indicated, the efficiency out of using (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P is superior to that of using Al_0.8Ga_0.2As as it gives 1.82% higher efficiency. The comparison between our simulation results and some corresponding experimental and theoretical work [19, 20, 23, 36] is included. Our optimized InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell, with the optimum (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P as the top window layer, gives 4% higher conversion efficiency under 1 sun of the standard AM1.5G solar spectrum at 300 K in comparison with Ref. [23]. It should be pointed out here that the simulation study in [23] was performed to optimize and design a double-layer top BSF using the same lattice-matched In_0.5(Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5P layer. The optimization was carried out by varying the thickness only. In our current study, we have tried not only to optimize the window layer main parameters but also to provide the optimization of other important parameters to obtain the maximum possible efficiency out of this design.

5. Conclusion

In this work, the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell is designed, simulated, and optimized. As the window layer is a crucial structural element in designing the DJ cell, it is important to select the most appropriate material and its parameters that give the highest efficiency. So, the device structure is optimized by using AlGaAs and AlGaInP in the window layer of the top cell. The efficiency has been optimized by varying the thickness of the top window layer. Next, the top base thickness, the bottom BSF thickness, and the doping concentration of the bottom BSF are optimized. The simulation results such as - characteristics, - characteristics, and EQE are extracted and plotted. A comprehensive simulation study is performed to compare the two materials (AlGaAs and AlGaInP) to determine the best top window layer material. The optimized top window material is found to be (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P which is lattice-matched with InGaP and GaAs. For the optimized DJ cell structure, and are obtained with a significant enhancement of conversion efficiency up to 38.53% under the illumination of 1 sun of the AM1.5G spectrum. This efficiency is about 4% higher in comparison with a similar simulation study. The efficiency improvement, in our current work, is due to the optimization of some parameters along with the window layer main parameters. Finally, the presented work sheds light on the optimization of the InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell and shows the importance of using accurate numerical TCAD simulations in designing such type of cells that has a lot of different parameters that cannot be optimized experimentally.

Data Availability

No data were used to support this study.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

This research has been funded by the Research Deanship of University of Ha’il-Saudi Arabia through project number RG-20047.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2021 Marwa S. Salem et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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International Journal of Photoenergy

Performance Optimization of the InGaP/GaAs Dual-Junction Solar Cell Using SILVACO TCAD

Abstract

1. Introduction

2. Design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell

2.1. The InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell Structure

2.2. Physical Models for the Design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell

2.3. The Selected Materials for the Design of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell

2.4. SILVACO ATLAS TCAD Tool Calibration

3. Performance Optimization of the InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell Using Two Different Top Window Layers

3.1. Using AlGaAs as the Top Window Layer

3.1.1. Al Mole Fraction Optimization

3.1.2. Optimization of the Top Window Layer Thickness

3.1.3. The Optimization of the Top Base Layer Thickness

3.1.4. Optimization of the Bottom BSF Layer Doping and Thickness

3.1.5. Electrical and Optical Performance

3.2. Using AlGaInP as the Top Window Layer

3.2.1. Optimization of Different Layers

3.2.2. Electrical and Optical Performance

3.3. Comparison between Using Al0.8Ga0.2As and (Al0.7Ga0.3)0.5In0.5P as the Top Window Layer

4. Comparing the Performance of the Optimum InGaP/GaAs DJ Solar Cell Structure with the Recent Research Studies

5. Conclusion

Data Availability

Conflicts of Interest

Acknowledgments

References

Copyright

3.3. Comparison between Using Al_0.8Ga_0.2As and (Al_0.7Ga_0.3)_0.5In_0.5P as the Top Window Layer