Strain-balanced quantum well solar cells

The exceptional power conversion efficiency of monolithic multi-junction solar cells requires careful current matching in the individual junctions. It is shown that the bulk GaInP/GaAs tandem con:guration is not optimal for solar conversion. A means for achieving optimum tandem power conversion is demonstrated through the incorporation of thin strain-balanced layers, resulting in a multi-quantum-well (MQW) structure. Experimental results are presented and an efficiency of 27% AM0 projected for a GaInP/MQW tandem cell.