Sharp developed a “concentrating” photocell with an efficiency of 44.4%

Sharp has published a press release, with information on the creation (and successful testing) of a solar cell concentrating solar cell, with an efficiency of 44.4%. The photocell itself is a fairly complex system, which includes an optical system and three conversion layers of semiconductors.

The first layer is indium gallium phosphide. The second layer is gallium arsenide. The third layer is indium gallium arsenide. The layers are separated by a dielectric, which allows to achieve a tunnel effect. The photo shows a fairly large system of photovoltaic cells, while the size of each cell is only 4 * 4 millimeters. Light is concentrated on each photocell by means of a so-called Fresnel lens (a so-called stepped lens). The size of the lens itself does not exceed the size of the photocell.
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According to the company, until now, composite photovoltaic cells have been used mainly in the space field, for providing satellites with energy. The latest development of the company allows the use of such photocells on the planet itself, at least in the near future.

Via sharp-world