NOVEL PARALLEL MULTIJUNCTION SOLAR-CELL

A novel parallel multijunction solar cell is described which allows fundamental radiative recombination limits upon photovoltaic cell energy conversion efficiency to be approached more closely in good quality material than possible in a single-junction device. However, the real advantage arises for poor quality material with the structure shown to be particularly tolerant of both impurity and grain boundary effects. A novel implementation approach is described for potentially high-performance, low-cost, thin-film polycrystalline silicon solar cells. © 1994 American Institute of Physics.