Ultrathin, directly glassed, GaAs solar cells

Due to its direct bandgap and high optical absorption coefficient, GaAs offers the potential for ultrathin (<10 micron) solar cells. Such cells have a very high output power per unit mass, and applications both as single junction cells and as top cells to mechanically stacked multijunction cells. This paper reports the development of ultrathin GaAs solar cells, with results up to 20% AMO 1 sun, based on conventional coverglass and interconnect techniques. Direct (glueless) bonding of coverglass to GaAs materials and cells are also reported. To achieve a direct bond, an electric field is placed across the cell and coverglass, whilst they are held in compression at an elevated temperature. Progress towards developing a directly glassed, ultrathin GaAs solar cell is reported