III-V optoelectronic devices nanofabrication for next generation concentrated photovoltaics (CPV)

用于下一代聚光光伏 (CPV) 的 III-V 光电器件纳米加工

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04960
• 负责人: Aimez, Vincent
• 金额: $ 3.35万
• 依托单位: Université de Sherbrooke
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=754103
• 关键词: III; optoelectronic; devices; nanofabrication; next

The photovolatics (PV) technology evolution over the last decades led to both higher sun energy conversion efficiency and much lowered cost per watt. With over 600 GW capacity installed worldwide in 2021 and an installation rate greater than 100GW per year, this renewable energy technology growth rate is increasing steadily. The technological leader in this field is based on silicon PV. This research program is based on an alternative technology using high performance "III-V" semiconductor materials traditionally found in telecommunications sector applications. The heterostructures using these materials for PV perform particularly well under concentrated sunlight (100 to 1000x typically) and thus ends up into reduced materials usage per unit area thanks to the optical concentrating setups. The latest reported record conversion efficiency by NREL is at 47.1% under 143 x concentrated sunlight, using 6 junction cell architectures. Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) systems thus rely on concentrated optics as well as dual axis trackers to keep light focused onto CPV cells. These systems, despite their very high recycling rate (steal, aluminum, glass), are more expensive than traditional PV systems and thus CPV currently has a marginal market share. From the scientific standpoint, all III-V technology developments will impact multiple industrial sectors including of course CPV but other critical sectors such as telecommunications, non-PV energy conversion systems etc. Also reaching 50% conversion efficiency is clearly a scientific target of high interest worldwide. The work supported by this program will be backed by a solid expertise developed within my group over the past 15 years and access to exceptional micro-nanofabrication infrastructures both at the Université de Sherbrooke and through international collaborations. We will develop high concentration cells (1000x typically) as well as advanced processing methods allowing for episubstrates recycling thus reducing by a factor of 10-20x these scarce materials usages. Our distinctive positioning is centered on advanced micro-nanofabrication expertise complementary to other CPV groups worldwide targeting mainly new material architectures. It will end up in 10 000 x reduction factor regarding scarce semiconductors materials usage compared to non concentrated applications. This know-how will also impact the Canadian leadership on III-V materials in many ways beyond the competition for 50% conversion efficiency of CPV cells, with Highly Qualified People training (4 PhDs and 5 interns) and a multiple set of targeted areas benefitting from this expertise beyond CPV, including the space PV sector for both satellites and beyond earth planet based PV applications.

过去几十年光伏 (PV) 技术的发展提高了太阳能转换效率，并大幅降低了每瓦成本。到 2021 年，全球安装容量将超过 600 吉瓦，每年安装率将超过 100 吉瓦，这推动了可再生能源技术的发展。该领域的技术领先者以硅光伏为基础，该研究计划基于使用传统上在电信领域应用中使用的高性能“III-V”半导体材料的替代技术。这些用于光伏的材料在集中阳光下（通常为 100 至 1000 倍）表现特别好，因此由于光学聚光设置，最终单位面积的材料使用量减少，NREL 最新报告的记录转换效率在 143 倍集中阳光下为 47.1%。因此，使用 6 结电池架构的聚光光伏 (CPV) 系统依靠聚光光学器件和双轴跟踪器来保持光线聚焦在 CPV 电池上。它们的回收率非常高（钢、铝、玻璃），比传统光伏系统更昂贵，因此 CPV 目前的市场份额很小，从科学的角度来看，所有 III-V 技术的发展都将影响多个工业部门，当然也包括 CPV。但其他关键领域，如电信、非光伏能源转换系统等。同样，达到 50% 的转换效率显然是全世界高度关注的科学目标。该计划支持的工作将得到我的团队多年来开发的扎实专业知识的支持。过去 15 年并获得卓越的我们将在舍布鲁克大学和国际合作中开发高浓度电池（通常为 1000 倍）以及先进的处理方法，以实现外延基板的回收，从而将这些稀缺材料的使用量减少 10-20 倍。独特的定位以先进的微纳米制造专业知识为中心，与全球其他主要针对新材料架构的 CPV 集团互补，最终将减少 10,000 倍。与非集中应用相比，半导体材料的使用稀缺，这一专业知识还将在许多方面影响加拿大在 III-V 族材料方面的领先地位，超越 CPV 电池 50% 转换效率的竞争，并提供高素质人才培训（4 名博士和 5 名博士）。实习生）以及多个目标领域受益于 CPV 以外的专业知识，包括卫星和地球以外的基于光伏应用的空间光伏领域。