The QPV Group at UNSW in partnership with researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the USA have set a new world record of 32.9% marking the highest double-junction solar cell efficiency achieved to date under AM1.5G. One novel aspect is the bottom sub-cell is formed from an artifical semiconductor composed of a strain-balanced stack of GaAsP/InGaAs quantum wells yjay gives rise to properties not found in natural semiconductor alloys. Quantum wells have been used extensibvely in semiconductor lasers and LEDs but this is the first time that this type of artifiical semiconductor has resulted in a more efficient tandem solar cell.
Read more about this result:
- Research paper published in Advanced Energy Materials
- News item published by NREL Quantum Wells Enable Record-Efficiency Two-Junction Solar Cell
- Article in PV Magazine New approach to III-V tandems sets 32.9% efficiency record
- Article in Renew Economy Australian researchers help set new records for ultra-high efficiency solar cells
- Article in Green Review Quantum wells enable record-efficiency two-junction solar cell