Title :
Status of diffused junction p+n InP solar cells for space power applications
Author :
Faur, M. ; Faur, M. ; Flood, D.J. ; Goradia, C. ; Brinker, D.J. ; Goradia, M. ; Moulot, J. ; Bailey, Susan ; Fatemi, N.S. ; Jenkins, Phillip P. ; Wilt, D.M.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Cleveland State Univ., OH, USA
Abstract :
We have succeeded in fabricating diffused junction p+n(Cd,S) InP solar cells with measured AM0, 25°C open circuit voltage (Voc) of 890 mV, which, to the best of our knowledge, is higher than previously reported Voc values for any InP homojunction solar cells. The experiment-based projected achievable maximum AM0, 25°C efficiency of these cells, using LEC grown substrates, is 21.3%. The maximum AM0, 25°C efficiency recorded to date on bare cells is, however, only 13.2% due entirely to nonoptimized front grid, antireflection (AR) coating and emitter thickness. This paper summarizes advances in the technology of fabrication of p+n InP diffused structures and solar cells, undertaken in an effort to increase the cell efficiency. Based on the high radiation resistance and the excellent post-irradiation annealing and recovery demonstrated in the early tests done to date, as well as the projected high efficiency and low-cost high-volume fabricability, these cells show a very good potential for space photovoltaic applications
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; annealing; antireflection coatings; cadmium; diffusion; indium compounds; optical films; p-n junctions; photovoltaic power systems; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; sulphur; 13.2 percent; 21.3 percent; 25 C; 890 mV; AM0; InP:S,Cd; antireflection coating; diffused junction p+n InP solar cells; efficiency; emitter thickness; fabrication; high radiation resistance; homojunction solar cells; nonoptimized front grid; open circuit voltage; p+n(Cd,S) InP solar cells; post-irradiation annealing; space power applications; Annealing; Circuits; Coatings; Fabrication; Indium phosphide; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Solar power generation; Testing; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 1994., Conference Record of the Twenty Fourth. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1994, 1994 IEEE First World Conference on
Conference_Location :
Waikoloa, HI
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-1460-3
DOI :
10.1109/WCPEC.1994.521663
