Very high efficiency InGaP/GaAs dual-junction solar cell manufacturing at Emcore Photovoltaics

Author

Hou, Hong Q. ; Sharps, Paul R. ; Fatemi, Navid S. ; Li, Nelson ; Stan, Mark A. ; Martin, Paul A. ; Hammons, B.E. ; Spadafora, Frank

Author_Institution

Emcore Photovoltaics, Albuquerque, NM, USA

fYear

2000

fDate

2000

Firstpage

1173

Lastpage

1176

Abstract

The electrical performance and space qualification data of very high efficiency dual junction n/p InGaP/GaAs (on Ge) solar cells manufactured at Emcore Photovoltaics are described. The minimum average beginning-of-life (BOL) conversion efficiency of large area (27.5 cm²) solar cells currently in production is 23.0% (28°C, 1 sum AM0, 135.3 mW/cm²). The resulting power output per cell is 0.86 watts. The highest efficiency obtained of 25.3% represents a record for a large area dual junction cell. The results presented here are for solar cells that have an optimized end-of-life (EOL) structure. The power remaining factors after irradiation with 1-MeV electrons at fluences of 5E14, 1E15, and 3E15 e/cm² are 0.89, 0.84, and 0.74 respectively. The results of full space qualification testing including electrical, radiation exposure, temperature coefficients, thermal cycling, humidity, optical, and mechanical measurements are presented

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; aerospace testing; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; life testing; p-n heterojunctions; semiconductor device manufacture; semiconductor device measurement; semiconductor device testing; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; 0.86 W; 1 MeV; 23 percent; 25.3 percent; 28 C; Emcore Photovoltaics; InGaP-GaAs; InGaP/GaAs dual-junction solar cell manufacturing; beginning-of-life conversion efficiency; electrical performance; irradiation testing; large area dual junction cell; optimized end-of-life structure; performance measurements; power remaining factors; space qualification data; space qualification testing; temperature coefficients; thermal cycling; Electrons; Extraterrestrial measurements; Gallium arsenide; Humidity; Manufacturing; Photovoltaic cells; Production; Qualifications; Temperature; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2000. Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE

Conference_Location

Anchorage, AK

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5772-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2000.916097

Filename

916097