Fraunhofer ISE Achieves Record 41.1 Percent Solar Cell Efficiency

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Researchers at the Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) have achieved a record efficiency of 41.1% for the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Sunlight was concentrated by a factor of 454 and focused onto a small 5mm² multi-junction solar cell made out of GaInP/GaInAs/ Ge (gallium indium phosphide, gallium indium arsenide on a germanium substrate), the researchers state.

‘We are elated by this breakthrough,’ says Frank Dimroth, head of the group III-V – Epitaxy and Solar Cells at Fraunhofer ISE. ‘At all times, the entire team believed in our concept of the metamorphic triple-junction solar cells, and our success today is made possible only through their committed work over the past years.’

Since 1999, Fraunhofer ISE has been developing metamorphic multi-junction solar cells, which are a special type of solar cells using III-V semiconductor compounds. These cells are made out of thin Ga0.35In0.65P and Ga0.83In0.17As layers on GaAs or Ge substrates.

SOURCE: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

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