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Multi-junction solar cells offer extremely high power conversion efficiency with minimal semiconductor material usage, and hence are promising for large-scale electricity generation. However, suppressing optical reflection in the UV regime is particularly challenging due to the lack of adequate dielectric materials. In this work, bio-inspired antireflective structures are demonstrated on a monolithically grown Ga0.5In0.5P/In0.01Ga0.99As/Ge triple-junction solar cell, which overcome the limited optical response of reference devices. The fabricated device also exhibits omni-directional enhancement of photocurrent and power conversion efficiency, offering a viable solution to concentrated illumination with large angles of incidence. A comprehensive design scheme is further developed to tailor the reflectance spectrum for maximum photocurrent output of tandem cells. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Biomimetic nanostructures have shown to enhance the optical absorption of Ga₀.₅In₀.₅P/GaAs/Ge triple junction solar cells due to excellent antireflective (AR) properties that, however, are highly dependent on their geometric dimensions. In practice, it is challenging to control fabrication conditions which produce nanostructures in ideal periodic arrangements and with tapered side-wall profiles, leading to sacrificed AR properties and solar cell performance. In this work, we introduce compound biomimetic nanostructures created by depositing a layer of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) on top of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanostructures for triple junction solar cells. The device exhibits photogenerated current and power conversion efficiency that are enhanced by ~8.9% and ~6.4%, respectively, after deposition due to their improved antireflection characteristics. We further investigate and verify the optical properties of compound structures via a rigorous coupled wave analysis model. The additional SiO₂ layer not only improves the geometric profile, but also serves as a double-layer dielectric coating. It is concluded that the compound biomimetic nanostructures exhibit superior AR properties that are relatively insensitive to fabrication constraints. Therefore, the compound approach can be widely adopted for versatile optoelectronic devices and applications.

Biomimetic nanostructures have shown to enhance the optical absorption of Ga(0.5)In(0.5)P/GaAs/Ge triple junction solar cells due to excellent antireflective (AR) properties that, however, are highly dependent on their geometric dimensions. In practice, it is challenging to control fabrication conditions which produce nanostructures in ideal periodic arrangements and with tapered side-wall profiles, leading to sacrificed AR properties and solar cell performance. In this work, we introduce compound biomimetic nanostructures created by depositing a layer of silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) on top of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanostructures for triple junction solar cells. The device exhibits photogenerated current and power conversion efficiency that are enhanced by ~8.9% and ~6.4%, respectively, after deposition due to their improved antireflection characteristics. We further investigate and verify the optical properties of compound structures via a rigorous coupled wave analysis model. The additional SiO(2) layer not only improves the geometric profile, but also serves as a double-layer dielectric coating. It is concluded that the compound biomimetic nanostructures exhibit superior AR properties that are relatively insensitive to fabrication constraints. Therefore, the compound approach can be widely adopted for versatile optoelectronic devices and applications.

In this work, we demonstrate the device design, characterization, fabrication and analysis of biomimetic antireflective structures on III–V multi-junction solar cell. The cell without antireflective structure has a severe change of refractive index between the cell and air, causing a huge reflection (about 30%) and decrease the cell efficiency significantly. We can reduce light reflection by coating a proper material on the cell, diminishing the refractive index difference between cell and air interface. The optimization of single antireflection coating and biomimetic structure will be discussed and the experimental results will also be presented.

Biomimetic nanostructures have shown to enhance the optical absorption of Ga(0.5)In(0.5)P/GaAs/Ge triple junction solar cells due to excellent antireflective (AR) properties that, however, are highly dependent on their geometric dimensions. In practice, it is challenging to control fabrication conditions which produce nanostructures in ideal periodic arrangements and with tapered side-wall profiles, leading to sacrificed AR properties and solar cell performance. In this work, we introduce compound biomimetic nanostructures created by depositing a layer of silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) on top of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanostructures for triple junction solar cells. The device exhibits photogenerated current and power conversion efficiency that are enhanced by ~8.9% and ~6.4%, respectively, after deposition due to their improved antireflection characteristics. We further investigate and verify the optical properties of compound structures via a rigorous coupled wave analysis model. The additional SiO(2) layer not only improves the geometric profile, but also serves as a double-layer dielectric coating. It is concluded that the compound biomimetic nanostructures exhibit superior AR properties that are relatively insensitive to fabrication constraints. Therefore, the compound approach can be widely adopted for versatile optoelectronic devices and applications.

Deep electron traps created by gamma-ray irradiation of Au/GaInP Schottky diodes grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) were studied by using deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) technique. Three distinct deep electron traps, G1, G2 and G3, were observed in the irradiated GaInP samples. According to the analysis of trap properties in various samples, trap G1 is verified as a bulk defect located at 0.13 eV below the conduction band, while trap G2 and G3 are interface states originated from the junctions of Au/Te-doped GaInP contacts.

Deep levels in AlInP layers, grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) with various V/III mole ratios, have been carefully investigated by deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). A deep level originating from phosphorus vacancy was observed with the activation energy of 0.65 eV. Examining this phosphorus-vacancy-related deep level provided a relatively simple means of understanding the phosphorus vacancy in AlInP, thus allowing us to determine an appropriate V/III mole ratio for growing AlInP.

A deep level in Te-doped Al0.5In0.5P, grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition, has been studied by deep level transient spectroscopy. The thermal activation energy was 0.24 eV, and the trap concentration was related to Te-dopant concentration. The deep level concentration strongly increased with elevating Te-dopant concentration. Meanwhile, the trap distribution profile also presented the same distribution behavior as the Te concentration profile. Therefore, the deep level in Te-doped AlInP is verified to be a dopant-related defect.

The properties of deep levels found in Mg-doped AlInP, grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, have been studied. Two distinct levels, labeled E1 and E2, were observed, with the activation energy of 0.19 and 0.514 eV, respectively. From distribution profiles measured on trap E1, E2 and Mg-dopant, all three concentration profiles have similar behaviors. The concentration increases gradually from the interface of pn junction. Furthermore, both trap E1 and E2 concentration increase with elevating Mg-dopant concentration. Thus, it seems that these deep levels originate from Mg-related defects.