High-Efficiency III-V Solar Cells Grown Directly on Si Substrates
Summary
The direct integration of III-V photovoltaic materials with silicon has been a major industry goal for decades, due to the many advantages of silicon over III-V substrates (lower cost, more robust, lighter weight, higher thermal conductivity, larger area substrates, and more mature manufacturing). Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed III-V solar cells with a wide range of achievable band gaps that are grown directly on Si substrates via an optically transparent buffer. These III-V solar cells can be integrated into high-efficiency multi-junction structures that use Si as both an active bottom cell and epitaxial growth substrate. Optimized solar cells of this design can reach the highest theoretical multi-junction solar cell efficiency, and their low relative cost (due to the use of low-cost Si substrates) makes these solar cells imminently viable for terrestrial power generation in a variety of solar energy conversion systems, from small-scale flat-plate rooftop configurations to utility-scale grid power generation concentrator arrays. Additionally, the combination of high efficiency and low module mass (due to the use of light-weight, thinnable Si substrates) also makes these solar cells ideal for space-based applications.
Main Advantages of Technical Approach
- Finally integrates III-V solar cell materials with silicon
- Possible cell efficiency nearly twice that of current state-of-the-art crystalline silicon commercial cells
- Possible cell efficiency approximately four times greater than modern commercial thin-film cells
- Huge reduction in materials and manufacturing costs
- Can implement already existing silicon foundries in manufacturing chain
Market Potential
- Utility-scale power generation
- Space-based applications
- Flat-plate rooftop configurations
- Concentrator photovoltaics
Inventor(s)
Steven RingelMark Brenner
Tyler Grassman
Intellectual Property Status
US Patent Pending - Foreign Rights AvailableContact Information
Demian Phillipsphillips.631@osu.edu | 614-688-5744
Technology Licensing & Commercialization
The Ohio State University
1216 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212-1154
