SolCell project (2014-2017)

The objective of the project was to develop traceable metrological infrastructure in support of the rapid advances made on multi-junction solar cells that are based on III-V materials. The project developed techniques and methodologies to enable traceable and accurate characterization of structural, optical, electrical, optoelectronic and thermionic properties of III-V material based MJSC, from the macro to nanoscale, in order to enhance efficiency of present devices and enable the production of next generation solar cells.

Multi-junction solar cells are new type of solar cells manufactured using materials from the element groups III and V, such as aluminium, gallium, indium, nitrogen, and arsenic. Multi-junction solar cells comprise multiple p-n junctions, each absorbing a separate portion of the solar spectrum. The most efficient solar cells are based on multi-junction structure allowing a record efficiency of almost 50 %.

Characterizing the optical and electrical properties of these new type of solar cell devices is essential when developing devices that are more efficient. Metrology Research Institute has developed novel measurement capabilities and measurement methods for multi-junction solar cells. In Metrology Research Institute the band gap and spectral reflectance of III-V multi-junction solar cells have been characterized with great accuracy using high quality instruments.

Contact person: Hans Baumgartner

More information about the project can be found at:
http://projects.npl.co.uk/solcell/