Photovoltaic multi-junctions

Develop multi-junction a-Si Ge and CIGS photovoltaic stmctures incorporating additional catalyst and protective thin film layers for use as hydrogen photoelectrodes. 

One of the problems facing manufacturers of polymer-based photovoltaic cells is their low light-to-energy conversion efficiency of 5% maximum, whereas multi-junction crystalline silicon-cells have achieved a figure of 37%. One of the flexible plastic solar cells exhibiting the 5% efficiency contains zinc oxide. 

Figure 4.86. Schematic of (a) a single-junction and (b) multi-junction photovoltaic ceU. The single-junction cell is reproduced with permission from Kasap, S. O. Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill New York, 2007. Copyright 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies.

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