Wide angle tolerant solar spectral splitter for lateral tandem solar cells

Schubert ML, Fischbach JD, Nyman M, Lüer L, Brabec C, Rockstuhl C, Sturges TJ (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

APL Photonics American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Book Volume: 10

Article Number: 066105

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1063/5.0266467

Abstract

Maximizing the power conversion efficiency of solar cells plays a crucial role in upscaling solar energy production. Combining two or more solar cells with different bandgaps into a multi-junction tandem solar cell lowers thermalization losses and increases the power conversion efficiency. While the best efficiencies have been achieved by vertically stacking solar cells, the fabrication process is technologically demanding and leads to high production costs. Novel photovoltaic materials such as organic photovoltaics allow solution processing, which could enable cost effective production of lateral multijunctions, where the single subcells are aligned side by side. To fully unlock their optimal performance, lateral tandems require careful light management, redirecting different spectral bands to the corresponding solar cell. So far, solar spectral splitters suffered from a strong angle dependency, which caused degradation in performance at the slightest deviation from normal incidence. In this contribution, we reduce this limitation and achieve an enhancement in the conversion efficiency across a wide range of incident angles by inverse designing a solar spectral splitter composed of two free-form microstructured surfaces on the top and bottom of a supporting glass substrate. Moreover, thanks to the versatility of our methodology, we can tailor the angle-dependent functionality of our device. As such, we also design devices that are optimized to provide enhanced performance at certain oblique angles, which correspond to different times of the day, e.g., when the unit price of energy is higher.

Authors with CRIS profile

Larry Lüer Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Christoph Brabec Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET)

Involved external institutions

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Schubert, M.L., Fischbach, J.D., Nyman, M., Lüer, L., Brabec, C., Rockstuhl, C., & Sturges, T.J. (2025). Wide angle tolerant solar spectral splitter for lateral tandem solar cells. APL Photonics, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0266467

MLA:

Schubert, M. L., et al. "Wide angle tolerant solar spectral splitter for lateral tandem solar cells." APL Photonics 10.6 (2025).

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