Development of high efficiency thin silicon space solar cells

Author

Washio, H. ; Katsu, T. ; Tonomura, Y. ; Hisamatsu, T. ; Saga, T. ; Matsutani, T. ; Suzuki, A. ; Yamamoto, Y. ; Matsuda, S.

Author_Institution

Sharp Corp., Nara, Japan

fYear

1993

fDate

10-14 May 1993

Firstpage

1347

Lastpage

1351

Abstract

The improvement of the efficiencies of thin silicon solar cells for space use was studied. The representative 3 types of nonreflective surface structures were evaluated and their characteristics were clarified. Solar cells with these structures showed excellent electrical performance and the best result of 18.0% efficiency for 100 μm thick cells was attained. Cells made from 2 Ω cm substrates showed higher electrical performance and radiation hardness than those from 10 Ω cm substrates. The electron irradiation tests showed that the current degradation of the cells with lower resistivity substrates were reduced and the improved solar cells can be used for future satellites

Keywords

aerospace testing; antireflection coatings; elemental semiconductors; photovoltaic power systems; radiation hardening (electronics); semiconductor device testing; silicon; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; 100 mum; 18 percent; Si; characteristics; current degradation; electrical performance; electron irradiation tests; nonreflective surface; radiation hardness; satellites; semiconductor; space solar cells; substrates; Cities and towns; Coatings; Conductivity; Electrons; Passivation; Photovoltaic cells; Satellites; Silicon; Space technology; Surface structures;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1993., Conference Record of the Twenty Third IEEE

Conference_Location

Louisville, KY

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1220-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1993.346922

Filename

346922