Researchers from North Carolina State University have made a breakthrough in enhancing the connectivity between stacked solar cells, significantly boosting the efficiency of photovoltaic systems and lowering the cost of solar power generation. This innovation could mark a major step forward in renewable energy technology.
According to the university, the new connection method allows the solar cells to function effectively at extremely high solar energy densities—up to 70,000 times the normal level—without suffering significant voltage drop, energy loss, or excessive heat buildup. This is a critical improvement, as previous designs often struggled with performance degradation under intense light conditions.
Stacked solar cells, also known as multi-junction solar cells, are composed of multiple layers of different semiconductor materials, each optimized to capture a specific part of the solar spectrum. These cells currently hold the record for the highest efficiency in commercial solar technology, with some reaching up to 45% conversion efficiency.
However, maintaining this efficiency requires careful design, particularly at the junctions where the individual cells connect. Researchers at NC State found that traditional methods often caused energy losses due to unwanted absorption of light or voltage leakage at these interfaces.
Salah Bedair, a professor of electrical engineering at North Carolina State University and lead author of the study, explained that by introducing a very thin layer of gallium arsenide into the contact points between the stacked cells, they were able to nearly eliminate voltage loss without blocking any incoming sunlight. This approach not only improves efficiency but also simplifies the design of the system.
Bedair emphasized that this advancement doesn’t require building larger, more expensive solar panels. Instead, it enables the use of smaller cells combined with optical concentrators, which focus more sunlight onto the cells. Since concentrators are relatively inexpensive, this strategy can dramatically reduce the overall cost of solar energy production.
This development has the potential to make high-efficiency solar power more accessible and affordable, paving the way for broader adoption of clean energy solutions. (Reported by Tao Shuhua)
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