• DocumentCode
    3150815
  • Title

    Lightweight CuInSe2 space solar cells fabricated by chemical thinning

  • Author

    Kim, N.P. ; Nielsen, J.A. ; Verzwyvelt, M.A.

  • Author_Institution
    Boeing Defense & Space Group, Seattle, WA, USA
  • fYear
    1996
  • fDate
    13-17 May 1996
  • Firstpage
    247
  • Lastpage
    250
  • Abstract
    Development of lightweight CuInSe2 (CIS) solar cells for space power applications is presented. Fabrication of the cells utilized a chemical thinning process after the CIS device structures had been formed on thick substrates by co-evaporation CIS deposition. It incorporated bilayer device protection during chemical etching. A cell specific power of 520 W/kg was achieved. A potential for specific powers of up to 650 W/kg has been demonstrated. Efficiencies as high as 9.2% AM0 were achieved using a 7.76 cm2 cell design. Weight for a 2×2 in2 substrate was reduced to as low as 0.5 g. Viability of this CIS device in the space environment was also demonstrated
  • Keywords
    copper compounds; etching; indium compounds; photovoltaic power systems; semiconductor device testing; semiconductor growth; semiconductor thin films; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; substrates; ternary semiconductors; vapour deposited coatings; vapour deposition; 0.5 g; 2 inch; 9.2 percent; CuInSe2; CuInSe2 space power solar cells; bilayer device protection; chemical etching; chemical thinning fabrication process; co-evaporation deposition; lightweight solar cells; space environment; specific power; thick substrates; Chemicals; Computational Intelligence Society; Costs; Fabrication; Glass; Photovoltaic cells; Space technology; Stability; Substrates; Transistors;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • Conference_Titel
    Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE
  • Conference_Location
    Washington, DC
  • ISSN
    0160-8371
  • Print_ISBN
    0-7803-3166-4
  • Type

    conf

  • DOI
    10.1109/PVSC.1996.563993
  • Filename
    563993