Development of high efficiency thin silicon space solar cells

Analysis for nonradiative recombination loss and radiation degradation of Si space solar cells

“…(Color online) Open‐circuit voltage drop compared to bandgap energy ( E g / q ‐ V oc ) and nonradiative V oc ( V oc , n rad ) in Si solar cells as a function of external radiative efficiency (ERE). Circles and squares for E g / q − V oc data show data for Si space cells 1–4 and data 5–9 for advanced cells for terrestrial use, respectively [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]…”

“…Effects of conducting type on radiation‐resistance of Si solar cells are explained by damage constant for minority‐carrier diffusion length as expressed by Equation as shown in Figure 8. Figure 15 shows changes in relative output power of n‐type Si base cells 34 as a function of 1 MeV electron fluence in comparison with those of Si BSFR space solar cells 1–3 and calculated results for changes in relative output power of Si solar cells as a function of damage constant K L for minority‐carrier diffusion length. Damage constant for minority‐carrier diffusion length in n‐type Si estimated from Figure 15 is 1 × 10 −9 and is higher that (5 × 10 −11 ) in p‐type Si.…”

“…(Color online) Changes in relative output power of Si back contact solar cells with various wafer thickness as a function of 1 MeV electron fluence in comparison with calculated results of Si back contact solar cells 35 and experimental results for Si back surface field and reflector (BSFR) space solar cells 1–3 [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]…”

“…F I G U R E 2 (Color online) Correlation between AM0 and AM1.5G characteristics of various solar cells made for terrestrial use [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] F I G U R E 3 (Color online) Open-circuit voltage drop compared to bandgap energy (E g /q-V oc ) and nonradiative V oc (V oc , n rad ) in Si solar cells as a function of external radiative efficiency (ERE). Circles and squares for E g /q − V oc data show data for Si space cells [1][2][3][4] and data [5][6][7][8][9] for advanced cells for terrestrial use, respectively [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] F I G U R E 1 (Color online) Chronological improvements in AM0 beginning-of-life (BOL) and end-of-life (EOL) efficiencies [1][2][3][4] of Si space solar cells in comparison with AM1.5G efficiencies of crystalline Si solar cells for terrestrial use [5][6][7][8][9] and future efficiency predictions of various Si solar cells (original idea by Professor A. Goetzberger 10…”

“…The silicon space solar cells [1][2][3] chronological improvements in AM0 beginning-of-life (BOL) and endof-life (EOL) efficiencies [1][2][3][4] of Si space solar cells in comparison with AM1.5G efficiencies of crystalline Si solar cells for terrestrial use [5][6][7][8][9] and future efficiency predictions of various Si solar cells (original idea by Professor A. Goetzberger 10 and modified by M. Yamaguchi 11 ). The function chosen here (Equation 1) is derived from the diode equation:…”