Improved spectral robustness of triple tandem solar cells by combined series/parallel interconnection

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Abstract
An improved interconnection of individual solar cells within a two-terminal triple-tandem solar cell is discussed. Limiting efficiency calculations for this modified triple-tandem solar cell, in which two series-connected bottom cells are connected in parallel to the top cell, are presented and compared to the results that are obtained for a conventional fully series-connected tandem cell. It is shown that the variation of the limiting efficiency with changing illumination conditions is smaller with the improved interconnection scheme, i.e., the latter is spectrally more robust, which is particularly important for terrestrial applications. It is also shown that, fundamentally, high efficiencies may be obtained with this scheme over a much wider range of material combinations, compared to a series-connected tandem. The limiting efficiency calulations are presented for different degrees of idealization and some technical issues involved in the realization of the suggested scheme are discussed.