Effects of beam splitting on photovoltaic properties of monocrystalline silicon, multicrystalline silicon, GaAs, and perovskite solar cells for hybrid utilization

Photovoltaic-thermal beam-splitting hybrid system utilizes solar energy with a high efficiency in a wider spectrum than photovoltaics. However, few studies explain the selection of solar cells or consider perovskite solar cells for the hybrid system. In this work, we studied the effects of beam splitting on the photovoltaic properties of monocrystalline silicon, multicrystalline silicon, GaAs, and perovskite solar cells with beam splitters to determine their applicability to beam-splitting hybrid systems. Transmission wavelengths of the beam splitters are 400-714 nm, 410-802 nm, 420-840 nm, and 430-1100 nm, respectively. Open-circuit voltage, fill factor, short-circuit current density, maximum power, and power conversion efficiency of solar cells with and without beam splitters were compared. Additionally, external quantum efficiency curves of the solar cells were presented to explain the trends of and to compare the preceding parameters. Results show that the Si solar cells is ineffective for the beam-splitting hybrid utilization with general beam splitters for their wide spectral response range, and the GaAs solar cell is better for its short spectral response range, and beam splitting can improve its power conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, the perovskite solar cell shows a great potential for hybrid utilization.