Document Type : Reseach Article

Authors

• Muhammad Aliff Hafeez Bin Azman ¹
• Sim Yi Sy Yi ¹
• Kah Haw Law ²
• Mohd Abdul Talib Mat Yusoh ³
• Md Nor Ramdon Bin Baharom ⁴
• Alvin John Lim Meng Siang ⁵
• Nur Sabrina Binti Azli Murzami ⁶
• Khalid Aboubakr Hasan Mousay ⁷

¹ Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia

² Electrical and Electronic Engineering Programme Area, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan BE1410, Brunei

³ School of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor, Malaysia

⁴ Faculty of Engineering Technology, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia

⁵ Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia

⁶ Founder Energy Sdn Bhd, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia

⁷ Technical College of Civil Aviation and Meteorology Esbea, Libya

Abstract

Global energy use is rising yearly, resulting in a higher demand. Power plants must generate more electricity,  thereby placing significant stress on the electrical grid. Solar engineering is a promising solution to this challenge. However, traditional silicon-based solar cells face inherent limitations. These cells rely on a single material, which restricts their power conversion efficiency by only capturing a very specific range of the sunlight spectrum.This study explores a novel concept in solar cell design that utilizes a multijunction approach, employing various semiconductor materials to create multiple p-n junctions within the cells. By strategically arranging these materials according to their energy bandgaps, the aim is to maximize the capture of the sunlight spectrum for enhanced power conversion and energy output, ultimately improving efficiency. The research was conducted using MATLAB software to focus on mathematical modeling. By analyzing designs from single junctions up to quintuple junctions and utilizing materials such as Germanium Sulfide, Gallium Arsenide, and Germanium, the study revealed that increasing the number of material layers significantly enhanced the performance of the solar cells. Notably, the quintuple junction solar cell demonstrated the highest efficiency, achieving 26.87% more efficiency compared to single junction cells, which recorded an efficiency of 42.63%.

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Keywords

• Solar
• Multijunction
• Energy bandgap
• Semiconductor materials