48

6. Summary

First and foremost, this thesis constitutes characterization studies of novel ultrasmall

ultraefficient multijunction concentrator solar cells. The irradiation protocols and flux maps

used for cell interrogation here can correspond to situations encountered in concentrator

photovoltaics. Motivated to explain the results in a simple manner, an explicit model was

developed. Anticipated performance penalties (or the lack thereof), as well as how module

architecture could be judiciously reconfigured were explored. In particular, one optical

suggestion was studied in great detail and a patent emerged from this study.

The most important findings are summarized and stated below:

6.1 Experimental

• Under uniform illumination of the active 1.0 mm2 area within the busbars, η has

maximum at ~1000 suns (Fig. 4-3) – at considerably higher flux than the ~350 suns

at which η of earlier 100 mm2 cells of the same nominal architecture peaked [18].

As expected, the miniaturization of a solar cell raises the flux at which η is

maximized.

• The effect of lowering VOC below the predicted values by the lumped series

resistance model becomes evident at PIN above ~260 mW (figure 4-5). Plots of VOC

against log{PIN} grow sublinearly at higher PIN even in a flash (constant

temperature) measurements. Moreover, VOC plots decrease with PIN in real-sun

measurements.
 49

• The cell parameter most sensitive to RS and hence to irradiation distribution, the fill

factor, remains roughly independent of both PIN and flux distribution up to ~1.0 W

(Fig. 4-4). FF worsens with more strongly localized PIN at higher concentrations as

RS effects are expressed more prominently [18]. Under highly localized irradiation

(with the 0.6 mm fiber), FF peaks at lower PIN ~800 mW, but at higher localized

flux ~2800 suns (which is consistent with the benefit of cell miniaturization).

• The flux nonuniformity with the 1.0 mm fiber did not result in significant

differences in I-V curves or the principal cell parameters, relative to irradiation with

the kaleidoscope, independent of PIN.

6.2 Theoretical

• The new model could be quantitatively fitted to the efficiency and fill factor curves.

• The model accounts qualitatively for the sublinearity of VOC vs. log {PIN}. It

explains them as the signature of flux nonuniformity and temperature elevation. It

also predicts that for inhomogeneous illumination, even at constant temperature,

VOC is not always monotonically increasing with power input.

6.3 Practical

• Because previous larger versions ~100 and 30 mm2 of the same cell architecture

exhibited a quality factor ~3 [12,18], it would appear that the anomalously high n

in these ultrasmall cells stems from edge recombination and mandates proper edge

passivating in future fabrication [36,37].

 50

• Reducing busbars’ area will increase illumination uniformity, which in turn may

both enhance efficiency and increase the concentration at which it peaks [18].

• Essentially loss-less, TIR-based, all-dielectric micro-optics can completely

eliminate the shadowing losses metallization grids create. Efficiency gains of ~15%

(relative) are achievable in a wide variety of concentrator photovoltaic devices.