Title :
Developments in thin-film photovoltaics for space
Author :
Tringe, J. ; Merrill, J. ; Reinhardt, K.
Author_Institution :
US Air Force Res. Lab., Kirtland AFB, NM, USA
Abstract :
Thin-film solar cells are important for space because of their low cost, high power density, and radiation resistance. However, significant technological hurdles remain before thin-film technology may be implemented as the primary power source for spacecraft. A large-area fabrication process for high-efficiency (>10% AMO) cells on a lightweight substrate must still be demonstrated, and there are many issues associated with space qualification of both the photovoltaic material itself and the substrate which must be resolved. Also, new deployment, interconnection and control schemes must be developed. Ongoing efforts led and supported by the Air Force to overcome these obstacles are discussed
Keywords :
semiconductor thin films; solar cell arrays; space vehicle power plants; substrates; Air Force; control schemes; high power density; high-efficiency cells; interconnection; large-area fabrication process; lightweight substrate; low cost; photovoltaic material; radiation resistance; space qualification; space solar cells; spacecraft power source; substrate; thin-film photovoltaics; thin-film solar cells; Aircraft manufacture; Amorphous silicon; Computational Intelligence Society; Costs; Manufacturing; Photovoltaic cells; Space technology; Space vehicles; Substrates; Transistors;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2000. Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Anchorage, AK
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5772-8
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2000.916114
