Citation :

Jhilirani Nayak, Pankaj Prusty, Priyabrata Pattanaik, Dilip Kumar Mishra, "An Investigation on Performance Enhancement of GaAs Solar Cells Using an Al_0.41Ga_0.59As Window Layer," International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 145-153, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488549/IJECE-V13I6P112

Abstract

Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) single-junction solar cells lead in advanced photovoltaic research due to its high absorption coefficients, favourable high bandgap, and strong potential for high conversion efficiency. This paper presents numerical simulation and performance optimization of an AlGaAs window layer-based heterojunction solar cell incorporated with Al0.41Ga0.59As front passivation layer, n+- GaAs carrier injection layer, a p-GaAs absorber layer, a p-Al0.41Ga0.59As Back Surface Field (BSF) layer, and a p+-GaAs interface layer. The aluminum composition of 41% is selected in order to achieve optimal band alignment and reduced recombination losses. The wide-bandgap AlGaAs layers are used at the front and rear interfaces in order to enhance carrier collection, zero-bias current density, and no-load voltage. The n++/p polarity exhibits higher electron mobility, results in a simulated zero-bias current density of 31.36mA/cm2,1.31V of no-load voltage, and a output power quality factor of 83.31%. The optimized device achieves a peak photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 34.38% under 1.5G illumination.

Keywords

High-Efficient Photovoltaic Cell, SCAPS, AlGaAs Window Layer, n+/p Cell, Back Surface Field Layer.

References

1. Kevin Gurbani Beepat et al., “Simulation of Multijunction Solar Cell Interfaces for Enhancement of the Power Conversion Efficiency,” Discover Applied Sciences, vol. 6, pp. 1-19, 2024.
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
2. Gangasagar Sharma Gaudel et al., “Reflectance Minimization of GaAs Solar Cell with Single- and Double-Layer Anti-Reflection Coatings: A Simulation Study,” Coatings, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 1-13, 2025.
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
3. Chae-Won Kim et al., “Efficiency Enhancement of GaAs Single-Junction Solar Cell by Nanotextured Window Layer,” Applied Sciences, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1-8, 2022. 
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
4. Farzaneh Shahnooshi, and Ali A. Orouji, “Efficiency Improvement of Graphene/AlGaAs/GaAs Schottky Junction Solar Cells by Minimizing Optical Losses Through Front and Rear Surface Texturing,” Scientific Reports, vol. 15, pp. 1-13, 2025.
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
5. Yanyan Wang et al., “Enhanced Antireflection and Absorption in Thin Film GaAs Solar Cells using Dielectric Composite Nanostructures,” Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 23, pp. 1-7, 2024.
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
6. Ishika Das et al., “Wafer-Scale Correlated Morphology and Optoelectronic Properties in GaAs/AlGaAs Core-Shell Nanowires,” APL Materials, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 1-8, 2025.
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
7. Mohammad Nur-E-Alam et al., “Enhancing GAAS Solar Cell Efficiency through Nanostructured Features: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Advances, Challenges and Future Outlook,” Inorganic Chemistry Communications, vol. 178, no. 1, pp. 1-16, 2025.
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
8. Antonio Luque, and Steven Hegedus, Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, 2^nd ed., Wiley, pp. 2011.
   [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
9. M.A. Green, Solar Cells: Operating Principles, Technology, and System Applications, Prentice Hall, 1981.
   [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
10. S.M. Sze, and Kwok K. Ng, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, 3^rd ed., Wiley, 2007.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
11. Peter Würfel, and Uli Würfel, Physics of Solar Cells: From Basic Principles to Advanced Concepts, 3^rd ed., Wiley, 2016.
    [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
12. Donald A. Neamen, Semiconductor Physics and Devices, 4^th ed., McGraw-Hill, pp. 1-8, 2011.
    [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
13. Gerald B. Stringfellow, Organometallic Vapor-Phase Epitaxy, 2^nd ed., Academic Press, 1999.
    [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
14. Jenny Nelson, The Physics of Solar Cells, Imperial College Press, 2003.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
15. R. People, and J.C. Bean, “Calculation of Critical Layer Thickness Versus Lattice Mismatch for Ge_xSi_1−x/Si Strained‐Layer Heterostructures,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 322-324, 1985.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
16. H. Angus MacLeod, and H. Angus Macleod, Thin-Film Optical Filters, 4^th ed., CRC Press, pp. 1-800, 2010.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
17. Marc Burgelman et al., “SCAPS Manual,” University of Gent Department of Electronics and Information Systems, pp. 1-159, 2016.
    [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
18. Shizhao Fan et al., “16.8%-Efficient n⁺/p GaAs Solar Cells on Si with High Short-Circuit Current Density,” IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 660-665, 2019.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
19. Daehwan Jung et al., “Low Threading Dislocation Density GaAs Growth on on-axis GaP/Si (001),” Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 122, no. 22, 2017.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
20. Duy Phong Pham, Sunhwa Lee, and Junsin Yi, “Optimisation of Four-Terminal GaAs//Si Tandem Solar Cells Using Numerical Simulation,” Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, vol. 139, 2022.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
21. R.C. Knechtli, R.Y. Loo, and G.S. Kamath, “High-Efficiency GaAs Solar Cells,” IEEE Transactions On Electron Devices, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 577-588, 1984.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
22. Zekun Ren et al., “The GaAs/GaAs/Si Solar Cell – Towards Current Matching in an Integrated Two Terminal Tandem,” Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, vol. 160, pp. 94-100, 2017.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
23. Sun-Tae Hwang et al., “Bandgap Grading and Al_0.3Ga_0.7As Heterojunction Emitter for Highly Efficient GaAs-based Solar Cells,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 155, pp. 264-272, 2016.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
24. Brendan M. Kayes et al., “27.6% Conversion Efficiency, A New Record for Single-Junction Solar Cells under 1 Sun Illumination,” 2011 37^th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Seattle, WA, USA, 2011.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
25. Martin A. Green et al., “Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (version 47),” Progress in Photovoltaics, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 45-51, 2006.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
26. Tomah Sogabe et al., “High-Efficiency InAs/GaAs Quantum Dot Intermediate Band Solar Cell Achieved Through Current Constraint Engineering,” Next Materials, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 1-11, 2023.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
27. Xutao Yu, et al., “High Efficient Solar Cell Based on Heterostructure Constructed by Graphene and GaAs Quantum Wells,” Advanced Science, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 1-8, 2023.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
28. Kevin L. Schulte et al., “Modeling and Design of III-V Heterojunction Solar Cells for Enhanced Performance,” Cell Reports Physical Science, vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 1-15, 2023.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
29. Valentin Daniel et al., “High‐Efficiency GaAs Solar Cells Grown on Porous Germanium Substrate with Peeler Technology,” Solar RRL, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1-15, 2024.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
30. Laila S. Mattos et al., “New Module Efficiency Record: 23.5% Under 1-sun Illumination using Thin-Film Single-Junction GaAs Solar Cells,” 2012 38^th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Austin, TX, USA, pp. 3187-3190, 2012.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]