Abstract—The multi-junction solar energy converters can be made cheap and efficient, if some new principles are applied for their design. We propose to make each p-n junction of the converter electrically independent with its own contacts. It eliminates obligatory series connection of the junctions, and allows using wide variety of electrical schemes, of “p” and “n” layers sequence, as well as of materials used. In particular, cheaper II-VI semiconductors can be used instead of III-V ones, with essentially simpler and cheaper technologies, such as Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and their combination. Several structures were created to illustrate the principles stated, and the results of their characterization are presented.
Index Terms—Multi-junction solar cells, variable electrical connections, II-VI semiconductors, two-stage CBD-CVD technique, photo-chemical bath deposition.
Chávez-Urbiola Iker, Vorobiev Yuri, and Ramirez-Bon Rafael are with CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Querétaro, 2000 Libramiento Norponiente, Fracc. Real de Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico (e-mail: ichavez@qro.cinvestav.mx, vorobiev@qro.cinvestav.mx, rrbon@qro.cinvestav.mx).
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Cite: Chávez-Urbiola Iker, Vorobiev Yuri, and Ramirez-Bon Rafael, "New Principles in Design and Technology of Multi-junction Solar Energy Converters," International Journal of Materials, Mechanics and Manufacturing vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 80-83, 2016.
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