Funding Opportunity: SuNLaMP
SunShot Subprogram: Photovoltaics
Location: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Amount Awarded: $1,500,000

The project will demonstrate bonded gallium indium phosphide (GaInP) on silicon tandem cells, evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this method of forming higher-efficiency tandem cells, and compare two- and three-terminal device configurations.

APPROACH

In order to demonstrate a bonded GaInP on silicon tandem cell, researchers will develop transparent conductive adhesive and device modeling to evaluate two- and three-terminal device architectures. The project aims to create a silicon-based tandem cell that has higher efficiencies than using silicon alone, aiming to reach efficiencies higher than 25% that create a viable economic pathway to meeting SunShot’s 2020 levelized cost of energy goals.

INNOVATION

The silicon-based tandem solar cells proposed in this project could reach the SunShot price targets at five to eight times higher concentration of sunlight by targeting the low-concentration photovoltaic market, an emerging area without established contenders for optimal solar cells.