Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Power conversion in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) or any other photovoltaic device can be increased by implementing monolithically series connected multi-bandgap structure in the device. The main concern for multi-bandgap material is the availability of different band gaps for the optimal operation of the device. Based on the recent work, GaAsN/InAsN superlattice lattice matched to InP has shown the potential of achieving band gaps in the range of 0.65-0.35eV at 300K, which is technologically important range for the TPV structure due to the availability of the photon energies in this range from the heat source. In this work, we will present the calculation details and results to find the maximum power generated by the multi-bandgap monolithically series connected devices. Optimized band gaps for p-i-n junction subcells were estimated by finding the optimal current to provide the maximum power through the series-connected double, triple and quadruple junction cells for 1350K blackbody radiation as an incident flux.