The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy, has made a significant breakthrough by creating a photovoltaic cell that achieves an impressive conversion efficiency of 31.3%, breaking the previous world record. This new achievement highlights the lab's ongoing efforts in advancing solar technology. The cell utilizes a double-junction design and is optimized for solar radiation.
Previously, the record was set by Alta Devices in March 2012, with a conversion efficiency of 30.8%. NREL’s latest development is a 0.25-cm² III-V photovoltaic cell that combines an indium gallium phosphide layer on top of a gallium arsenide cell. This setup is tested under the AM1.5G standard, which simulates sunlight at 1000 watts per square meter.
One of the key innovations behind this advancement is the use of the heterogeneous (IMM) cell design. This approach involves rearranging the growth sequence of layers, introducing a transparent buffer to reduce misalignment, and removing the main substrate to transfer it to a secondary handle. This technique enhances both performance and flexibility.
This progress is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s F-PACE project, short for "Faster, Purer, Advanced, Cost-Effective." As part of the SunShot initiative, F-PACE aims to significantly lower the cost of solar energy production. A major goal of the project is to develop photovoltaic cells with a conversion efficiency of up to 48%.
NREL scientist Myles Steiner emphasized that, historically, improvements in multi-junction solar cells have come from refining material quality and optimizing factors like band gap and layer thickness. However, the lab is now placing greater emphasis on internal optics—a factor that has often been overlooked in high-quality III-V cells.
Steiner explained, “We believe that internal optics play a crucial role in achieving better performance, and our project aims to fully understand and harness this potential.†This shift in focus could open new pathways for even more efficient solar technologies in the future.
By pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in solar energy, NREL continues to lead the way in renewable energy research. Their work not only sets new benchmarks but also brings us closer to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
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