Optical to electrical power converting semiconductor devices were achieved with breakthrough performance by designing a Vertical Epitaxial Heterostructure Architecture. The devices are featuring modeled and measured conversion efficiencies greater than 65%. The ultrahigh conversion efficiencies were obtained by monolithically integrating several thin GaAs photovoltaic junctions tailored with submicron absorption thicknesses and grown in a single crystal by epitaxy. The heterostructures that were engineered with a number N of such ultrathin junctions yielded an optimal external quantum efficiencies approaching 100%/N. The heterostructures are capable of output voltages that are multiple times larger than the corresponding photovoltage of the input light. The individual nanoscale junctions are each generating up to ∼1.2 V of output voltage when illuminated in the infrared. We compare the optoelectronic properties of phototransducers prepared with designs having 5 to 12 junctions and that are exhibiting voltage outputs between >5 V and >14 V.
The high-efficiency conversion of photonic power into electrical power is of broad-range applicability to many industries due to its electrical isolation from the surrounding environment and immunity to electromagnetic interference which affects the performance and reliability of sensitive electronics. A photonic power converter, or phototransducer, can absorb several watts of infrared laser power transmitted through a multimode fiber and convert this to electrical power for remote use. To convert this power into a useful voltage, we have designed, simulated, and fabricated a photovoltaic phototransducer that generates >5 V using a monolithic, lattice-matched, vertically-stacked, single-cell device that eliminates complex fabrication and assembly steps. Experimental measurements have demonstrated a conversion efficiency of up to 60.1% under illumination of ~11 W/cm 2 at a wavelength of 835 nm, while simulations indicate that efficiencies reaching 70% should be realistically achievable using this novel design.Keywords: power over fiber, photovoltaic power converter, optical power transmission, photonic transducer, III-V semiconductor, remote power, electrical isolation, electromagnetic interference immunity.
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