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Top Cells for Silicon-Based Tandem Photovoltaics
Mingrui He1, Meng Zhang1, Zhen Li1
1School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Silicon (Si) is optimal for bottom cells in tandem solar cells, enabling higher efficiencies. This review covers top cell materials like perovskites and III-V compounds, and challenges for future Si-based tandem photovoltaic systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Single-junction silicon (Si) solar cells face efficiency limitations.
- Tandem solar cells, integrating multiple junctions, offer a route to overcome these limits.
- Si is a well-established and optimal material for the bottom cell in tandem configurations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the suitability of Si as the bottom cell in tandem solar cells.
- To review various tandem configurations and interconnection techniques.
- To examine top cell materials (III-V, perovskites, chalcogenides) for Si-based tandem applications.
- To identify challenges and future research directions for highly efficient Si-based tandem photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of tandem solar cell technologies.
- Analysis of different PV materials and their integration into tandem structures.
- Examination of current challenges and proposed solutions for top cell integration.
Main Results:
- Silicon is confirmed as the optimal bottom cell material for tandem configurations.
- Various top cell materials, including III-V, perovskites, and chalcogenides, are suitable for Si-based tandem cells.
- Identified key challenges in top cell performance and integration with Si bottom cells.
Conclusions:
- Si-based tandem solar cells are a promising technology for exceeding current efficiency benchmarks.
- Further research into top cell materials and integration strategies is crucial for advancing Si-based tandem PV.
- Strategic development is needed to overcome existing challenges and realize the full potential of these high-efficiency systems.
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