Cascade solar-cell design for high-temperature operation

The cascade solar-cell optimization design procedure developed using computer modeling to obtain a cell design that results in maximum conversion efficiency under a given set of operating conditions has been extended. Earlier work reported optimized designs for operation at 300 K, AM0, and AM1.5. In this work, optimized designs are determined for a two-junction, monolithic, cascade solar cell for operation at eight temperatures in the range from 300 to 475 K, AM1.0, and 10⁶-cm . s^-1surface-recombination velocity. The device performance characteristics for each of the eight optimized designs are studied over the 300 to 600 K operating-temperature range.