Fabrication of high efficiency, III-V multi-junction solar cells for space concentrators

• Published in: Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002 pp. 920 - 922
• Main Authors: Stavrides, A., King, R.R., Colter, P., Kinsey, G., McDanal, A.J., O'Neil, M.J., Karam, N.H.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway NJ IEEE 2002
• Subjects: Aerospace industry; Apertures; Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fabrication; Fingers; III-V semiconductor materials; Military satellites; Natural energy; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Shadow mapping; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Sun; Time measurement; Space application; Multijunction solar cells; Manufacturing process; Solar energy concentrator; High efficiency
• ISBN: 9780780374713; 0780374711
• ISSN: 1060-8371
• DOI: 10.1109/PVSC.2002.1190730

High-efficiency multijunction cells have been fabricated for use in space concentrator modules at concentrations of 8-15 suns. Modeling and optimization efforts to modify Spectrolab's 1-sun cells for use at concentration are described. An experimental population of 200 cells of 3.5 cm/sup 2/ aperture area (4.2 cm/sup 2/ total area) grown using a variety of conditions had an average efficiency of 29.6% at 8 suns AMO. This population included several cells which exceeded 31% aperture area efficiency and 32% active area efficiency. A Spectrolab cell was measured in ENTECH's mini-concentrator module (at approximately 8 suns) with a combined lens/cell mini-module efficiency of 30.8% under outdoor sunlight, which-is, to our knowledge, the first time the 30% barrier has been broken for such a module.