Title :
Progress toward technology transition of GaInP2/GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cells
Author :
Keener, Captain David N ; Marvin, Dean C. ; Brinker, David J. ; Curtis, Henry B. ; Price, P. Michael
Author_Institution :
Phillips Lab., Kirtland AFB, NM, USA
fDate :
29 Sep-3 Oct 1997
Abstract :
The objective of the joint WL/PL/NASA Multijunction Solar Cell Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program is to scale up high efficiency GaInP2/GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cells to production size, quantity, and yield while limiting the production cost/Watt ($/W) to 15% over GaAs cells. Progress made by the program contractors, Spectrolab and TECSTAR, include, respectively, best cell efficiencies of 25.76% and 24.7% and establishment of 24.2% and 23.8% lot average efficiency baseline designs. The paper also presents side-by-side testing results collected by Phillips Laboratory and NASA Lewis on Phase I deliverable cells, which shows compliance with program objectives. Cell performance, pre- and post-radiation, and temperature coefficient results on initial production GaInP2/GaAs/Ge solar cells are presented
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; elemental semiconductors; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; germanium; indium compounds; p-n heterojunctions; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; 23.8 to 25.76 percent; GaInP2-GaAs-Ge; GaInP2/GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cells; NASA Lewis; Phillips Laboratory; Spectrolab; TECSTAR; high efficiency solar cells; production cost/Watt limiting; production size scale up; solar cell performance; solar cell post-radiation results; solar cell pre-radiation results; technology transition; temperature coefficient; Costs; Gallium arsenide; Laboratories; Manufacturing; NASA; Photovoltaic cells; Production; Space technology; Temperature; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1997., Conference Record of the Twenty-Sixth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Anaheim, CA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3767-0
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1997.654207
