Title :
Initial results for the silicon monolithically interconnected solar cell product
Author :
Shreve, K.P. ; DiNetta, L.C. ; Cotter, J.E. ; Bower, J.R. ; Ruffins, T.R. ; Barnett, A.M.
Author_Institution :
AstroPower Inc., Newark, DE, USA
Abstract :
This technology is based on AstroPower´s electrostatic bonding and silicon solar cell processing techniques. Electrostatic bonding allows silicon wafers to be permanently attached to a thermally matched glass superstrate and processed to form the monolithically interconnected devices. These devices can be tailored for space and terrestrial applications. The costs of the monolithic interconnection compare favorably to labor intensive, conventionally strung solar cell arrays. Voltage and current outputs can be varied without varying the number of fabrication steps. Prototypes have demonstrated efficiencies greater than 11%. The monolithic approach has a number of inherent advantages for space and terrestrial photovoltaic products
Keywords :
electrostatics; elemental semiconductors; semiconductor materials; silicon; solar cell arrays; solar cells; wafer bonding; AstroPower; Si; current outputs; electrostatic bonding; monolithically interconnected solar cells; silicon wafers; space applications; terrestrial applications; thermally matched glass superstrate; voltage outputs; Costs; Electrostatics; Fabrication; Glass; Photovoltaic cells; Prototypes; Silicon; Space technology; Voltage; Wafer bonding;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3166-4
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1996.564216
