Innovative Strategies for High-Efficiency, Low-Cost, Lightweight III-V Multijunction Solar Cells

III-V-based multijunction solar cells (MJSCs) are leading technologies in renewable energy due to their high power conversion efficiency; however, high production costs limit their widespread market adoption. This paper presents two recent innovative strategies aimed at enhancing the economic viability of lightweight multijunction solar cells without sacrificing performance. First, an optimization study of the epitaxial lift-off (ELO) process which aims to achieve crack-free, lattice-mismatched multijunction solar cells is discussed. This method not only facilitates the reuse of III-V substrates but also leads to substantial material savings. Then, a novel plateau-multijunction solar cell design is introduced. This strategy minimizes the use of costly III-V material while achieving optimal power conversion efficiency. In a broader context, this article seeks to contribute to the roadmap for making III-V multijunction solar cells more economically feasible, thereby promoting their integration into the renewable energy market, particularly for electric automobile and space applications.