Sharp claims world’s most efficient solar cells

Compound solar cells used in lens-based concentrator system.

Japan’s Sharp Corporation has developed a concentrator triple-junction compound photovoltaic cell that it claims has the world's highest conversion efficiency of 44.4%.

This number was confirmed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Germany at a concentration of 302X as of June 14.

Compound PV cells typically offer high conversion efficiency by using photoabsorption layers made from compounds of multiple elements such as indium and gallium. Sharp's concentrator triple-junction compound solar cells have a stack of three photoabsorption layers, the lowest of which is made from indium gallium arsenide.

Achieving the high efficiency meant widening the effective concentrator cell surface and ensuring uniformity of width at the interface of the connecting concentrator cell and electrodes.

Because of their high conversion efficiency, compound solar cells are used primarily on space satellites. Sharp aims make the use of compound solar cells more feasible in terrestrial applications.