Title :
Fabrication of high efficiency, III-V multi-junction solar cells for space concentrators
Author :
Stavrides, Alex ; King, Richard R. ; Colter, Peter ; Kinsey, Geoffrey ; McDanal, A.J. ; O´Neil, M.J. ; Karam, N.H.
Author_Institution :
Spectrolab Inc., Sylmar, CA, USA
Abstract :
High-efficiency multijunction cells have been fabricated for use in space concentrator modules at concentrations of 8-15 suns. Modeling and optimization efforts to modify Spectrolab´s 1-sun cells for use at concentration are described. An experimental population of 200 cells of 3.5 cm2 aperture area (4.2 cm2 total area) grown using a variety of conditions had an average efficiency of 29.6% at 8 suns AMO. This population included several cells which exceeded 31% aperture area efficiency and 32% active area efficiency. A Spectrolab cell was measured in ENTECH´s mini-concentrator module (at approximately 8 suns) with a combined lens/cell mini-module efficiency of 30.8% under outdoor sunlight, which-is, to our knowledge, the first time the 30% barrier has been broken for such a module.
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; semiconductor device measurement; semiconductor device models; solar cell arrays; solar cells; space vehicles; 29.6 percent; 30.8 percent; 31 percent; 32 percent; III-V multi-junction solar cells; Spectrolab´s 1-sun cells; efficiency; space concentrators; Aerospace industry; Apertures; Fabrication; Fingers; III-V semiconductor materials; Military satellites; Photovoltaic cells; Shadow mapping; Sun; Time measurement;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002. Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7471-1
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2002.1190730
