Title :
Lightweight, light-trapped, thin GaAs solar cell for spacecraft applications: progress and results update
Author :
Hannon, M.H. ; Dashiell, M.W. ; DiNetta, L.C. ; Barnett, A.M.
Author_Institution :
AstroPower Inc., Newark, DE, USA
Abstract :
Progress is reported on the development of ultra-lightweight, high performance, thin, light trapped GaAs solar cells for advanced space power systems. Conversion efficiencies of 19.2% (AM0, 1X) have been demonstrated for an adhesive bonded, 3 μm thick, 1 cm2 area solar cell. This results in a specific power of over 1125 W/kg (with a 3-mil cover glass) and a power density of 260 W/m2. All back contact, ultra-thin, electrostatically bonded GaAs solar cell prototypes have also been fabricated demonstrating an open circuit voltage of 1 volt for a cell base thickness of 1 μm with a 0.5 μm emitter. This technology will result in an improvement in survivability, performance, and manufacturability of lightweight GaAs solar cell products for future Earth-orbiting science and space exploration missions
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; adhesion; gallium arsenide; photovoltaic power systems; semiconductor thin films; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; 0.5 mum; 1 V; 1 mum; 19.2 percent; 3 mum; Earth-orbiting space vehicles; GaAs; adhesive bonded solar cell; back contact; conversion efficiencies; electrostatically bonded; emitter; high performance; light-trapped thin GaAs solar cell; manufacturability improvement; open circuit voltage; performance improvement; power density; spacecraft applications; specific power; survivability improvement; ultra-lightweight solar cell; Bonding; Circuits; Gallium arsenide; Glass; Photovoltaic cells; Power systems; Prototypes; Space technology; Space vehicles; Voltage;
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.1996.563979
