Performance of a new high-intensity silicon solar cell

A new silicon solar cell, designed to have improved electrical, optical, and thermal transfer characteristics at very high incident light intensities, has been fabricated and provides experimental verification of the basic design concepts. The AM1 efficiency for nonoptimized cells is 12.8% at 25 °C. At 300 suns the efficiency increases to 19%. It is shown that efficiencies of over 25% are possible for this type of cell in a more-optimized form at intensities of ∼500–1000 suns.