The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, or AIST, has announced a significant breakthrough in photovoltaic technology with the development of a high-efficiency tandem solar cell. By utilizing its proprietary Smart Stack Technology, AIST successfully created a three-junction tandem cell by stacking dissimilar materials: Group Three-Five compounds and Copper Indium Gallium Selenide. This innovative structure has achieved a record power conversion efficiency of twenty-nine point three percent for this class of device.
This development is crucial as the industry seeks to break past the theoretical efficiency limits of single-junction cells. Tandem structures, which layer multiple materials to capture a broader spectrum of light, represent the next generation of photovoltaics. The challenge lies in bonding materials with drastically different properties, such as large differences in lattice constants and surface quality.
AIST's Smart Stack Technology directly addresses this fabrication challenge. The technique employs a unique bonding layer comprising palladium nanoparticles dispersed in a silicone-based diluted adhesive. This novel interlayer facilitates the large-area mechanical stacking of heterogenous materials, even those with significant surface roughness like Copper Indium Gallium Selenide films. The feasibility of this process was successfully demonstrated on a four-inch substrate, a major step toward commercial scalability.
The combination of ultra-high efficiency Group Three-Five compounds in the top cell with the stability and mature thin-film processing of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide holds immense market potential. Beyond terrestrial power generation, this robust, high-performance technology is highly promising for demanding applications, particularly in the high-value sector of space photovoltaic cells where high power-to-weight ratio is essential. AIST is now focused on accelerating the development of this highly efficient Copper Indium Gallium Selenide-based solar cell for both ground and extra-terrestrial use.
图片提示词：Realistic, professional image showing a cross-section diagram of a three-junction tandem solar cell with distinct layers (labeled Group Three-Five, Smart Stack Interlayer, and Copper Indium Gallium Selenide), overlaid on a micro-photograph of the bonding interface, showcasing a clean, layered structure.
