Ultra-high-efficiency and low-cost next-generation solar cells

Overview

Development of photovoltaic power generation is growing as a key technology to tackle the issues of climate change, clean energy and reduction of carbon dioxide emission. To this end, research on increasing the conversion efficiency and cutting the manufacture cost is important. In recent years, methods to increase the efficiency and lower the cost have been actively researched using new solar cell materials and quantum nanostructures. In Okada lab, we explore: (1) material properties and performance of next-generation multijunction solar cells, (2) quantum dot solar cells, and (3) issues and methods to reduce the manufacture cost and increase large-scale installation. Also our work involves (4) development of hybrid concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) and solar thermal (CSP) system to maximize the harvesting of total solar energy.