|
contents | technologies | |||||||||
| Sharp develops technology for triple-junction solar cells  Sharp has developed mass-production technology for stacked triple-junction thin-film solar cells by turning a conventional two-active-layer structure, amorphous silicon plus microcrystalline silicon, into a triple-junction structure with amorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon. This new architecture boosts cell conversion efficiency from 11% to 13% and module conversion efficiency from 8.6% to 10%. Mass production is slated to begin in May 2007. Creating two amorphous silicon active layers significantly increases voltage levels, and structuring the cell to have three active layers in combination with microcrystalline silicon decreases light-induced degradation.Normally, the shift from a two-layer structure to a three-layer structure would demand an increase in production equipment, but these newly developed thin-film solar cells can be fabricated on the same equipment as conventional tandem cells. Consequently, the shift to multiple active layers enables increases in conversion efficiencies and thus a lower price per watt without the need for expensive, large-scale equipment. In addition, using this triple-junction thin-film solar cell in Sharp's Lumiwall Illuminating Solar Panel, a combination of solar module and LEDs, or in transparent thin-film solar modules designed for use as architectural elements, will enable higher power output. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Construction News :: home page |