Solar tandem

A photovoltaic (PV) solar power system is a complete electrical source that uses solar cells to directly convert light energy into electricity. The system can be self-contained and completely autonomous or it can work in tandem with other conventional fuel-based sources of power to offer robust power availabihty. 

Designing tandem cells is complex. For example, each cell must transmit efficiently the insufficiently energetic photons so that the contacts on the backs of the upper cells are transparent to these photons and therefore caimot be made of the usual bulk metal layers. Unless the cells in a stack can be fabricated monolithically, ie, together on the same substrate, different external load circuits must be provided for each cell. The thicknesses and band gaps of individual cells in the stack must be adjusted so that the photocurrents in all cells are equal. Such an optimal adjustment is especially difficult because the power in different parts of the solar spectmm varies under ambient conditions. Despite these difficulties, there is potential for improvement in cell conversion efficiency from tandem cells. 

A smaller class of type II alloys of II-VI binaries also exists, including the (CdS) ,(ZnSe)i (CdS) ,(ZnTe)i (CdSe) ,(ZnSe)i (CdS) ,(CdTe)i-. (CdSe)x(CdTe)i i , and (CdS) c(ZnS)i i systems, which transform at some critical composition from the W to the ZB structure. Importantly, the transition temperatures are usually well below those required to attain a thermodynamically stable wurtzite form for the binary constituents (e.g., 700-800 °C for pure CdS and > 1,020 "C for pure ZnS). The type 11 pseudobinary CdxZni jcSe is of considerable interest in thin film form for the development of tandem solar cells as well as for the fabrication of superlattices and phosphor materials for monitors. The CdSe Tei-x alloy is one of the most investigated semiconductors in photoelectrochemical applications. 

FIG. 72. Schematic cross-section of (a) a single junction p-i-n o-Si H superstrata solar cell and (b) a tandem solar cell structure. (From R. E. I, Schropp and M. Zeman. "Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells—Modeling, Materials and Device Technology," Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 1998, with permission.)... 

The amorphous silicon tandem solar cells consisted of three n-i-p a-Si H cells grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) [126]. The a-Si H cell area was 0.5 cm2. 

Kocha, S.S., Montgomery, D., Peterson, M.W., and Turner, J.A., Photoelectrochemical decomposition of water utilizing monolithic tandem cells, Solar Energ. Mater. Solar Cells, 52,389,1998. 

Jiang, C.-W. Green, M. A. 2006. Silicon quantum dot superlattices Modeling of energy bands, densities of states, and mobilities for silicon tandem solar cell applications. J. Appl. Phys. 99 114902-114909. 

It is necessary to calibrate the 14C time scale for greater dating accuracy. However, the second-order variations are at least as important as the first-order constancy of atmospheric 14C. For example, they provide a record of prehistoric solar variations, changes in the Earth s dipole moment and an insight into the fate of C02 from fossil fuel combustion. Improved techniques are needed that will enable the precise measurement of small cellulose samples from single tree rings. The tandem accelerator mass spectrometer (TAMS) may fill this need. 

Metal deposition processes, early,. 9 760-761. See also Electroless deposition Metal deposition systems, in compound semiconductor processing, 22 188-189 Metal-dielectric composite-metal tandem solar absorbing surface, 23 11 Metal dithionates, 23 677-678 uses for, 23 677-678... 

Multilayer-metal tandem solar absorbing surface, 23 11... 

The Venturi Astrolab is called a high-performance solar-electric commuter car. It has two seats in tandem for better balance on the road, a 16 kW asynchronous motor and a hydride metal nickel 72V battery that gives it a 110-km range and a 120 km/hour top speed. 

A key issue is the improvement of solar light harvesting. New active materials with high optical absorption in the visible and good photostability are needed. Implementation of carrier multiplication through impact ionization in quantum dots arrays could mitigate the losses related to carrier thermalization. The alternative approach is the development of vertically stacked tandem systems of increasing band gap active materials, which effect H+ reduction and water oxidation on opposite sides. 

A. De Vos, Detailed balance limit of the efficiency of tandem solar cells,... 

Figure 28 Tandem solar cell where monodirectional antenna systems with three dyes are put between two w-type semiconductors with different hand gaps.

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