Title :
18.3% efficient silicon solar cells for space applications
Author :
Crotty, G.T. ; Verlinden, P.J. ; Cudzinovic, M. ; Swanson, R.M. ; Crane, R.A.
Author_Institution :
SunPower Corp., Sunnyvale, CA, USA
fDate :
29 Sep-3 Oct 1997
Abstract :
In this paper, the authors report on the development of high-efficiency silicon solar cells designed specifically for space applications. The cells are the 100 μm thin N+-P-P+ and are 2×4 cm in size. The front side surface is textured with inverted pyramids and received a double layer anti-reflection coating (ARC). They also have a back surface field (BSF) and a back surface reflector (BSR). Both front and back diffusions are optimized for radiation hardness. The best beginning of life (BOL) efficiencies of these thin (100 μm) 2 cm×4 cm cells have been measured At JPL to be 18.3%. The best end of life (EOL) efficiencies after 1 MeV 1E15 electrons is 12.1%
Keywords :
aerospace testing; electron beam effects; elemental semiconductors; semiconductor device testing; silicon; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; 1 MeV; 100 mum; 12.1 percent; 18.3 percent; 2 cm; 4 cm; Si; back surface field; back surface reflector; beginning of life; double layer anti-reflection coating; electron irradiation; end of life; inverted pyramid surface texture; radiation hardness; silicon solar cells; space power applications; Costs; Degradation; Electrons; Gallium arsenide; Manufacturing; Passivation; Photovoltaic cells; Silicon; Space technology; Surface texture;
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.1997.654266
