Development of New Four-Terminal, Dual Junction Solar Cell Materials to Overcome the Shockley-Queisser Limit

Engineers and scientists currently know how to make silicon solar cells that are 25% efficient. This achievement has nearly reached the theoretical maximum (29%) for a single junction solar cell. How do we go beyond 29%? In order to continue reducing the costs of solar power generation, higher performance devices are necessary. Here we briefly present possible strategies along with their implementations to go beyond the Shockley-Queisser Limit. Two new materials -CZTS and SnS - are being developed for use in four-terminal, dual junction devices.