Lightweight, Flexible, High-Efficiency III-V Multijunction Cells

Law, D. C.; Edmondson, K.; Siddiqi, N.; Paredes, Alejandro; King, Richard R.; Glenn, G.; Labios, E.; Haddad, M.; Isshiki, T.; Karam, N.H.

doi:10.1109/wcpec.2006.279862

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Specifically for the space use, very thin, light and flexible InGaP/GaAs 2J and InGaP/GaAs/Ge 3J cells are being developed recently [31][32][33]. Figure 8 shows a photograph of a flexible InGaP/GaAs 2J device [33].…”

Section: Developments Of Multijunction Iii-v Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

Tanabe

2009

Energies

151

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Solar cells are a promising renewable, carbon-free electric energy resource to address the fossil fuel shortage and global warming. Energy conversion efficiencies around 40% have been recently achieved in laboratories using III-V semiconductor compounds as photovoltaic materials. This article reviews the efforts and accomplishments made for higher efficiency III-V semiconductor compound solar cells, specifically with multijunction tandem, lower-dimensional, photonic up/down conversion, and plasmonic metallic structures. Technological strategies for further performance improvement from the most efficient (Al)InGaP/(In)GaAs/Ge triple-junction cells including the search for 1.0 eV bandgap semiconductors are discussed. Lower-dimensional systems such as quantum well and dot structures are being intensively studied to realize multiple exciton generation and multiple photon absorption to break the conventional efficiency limit. Implementation of plasmonic metallic nanostructures manipulating photonic energy flow directions to enhance sunlight absorption in thin photovoltaic semiconductor materials is also emerging.

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Section: Developments Of Multijunction Iii-v Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

Tanabe

2009

Energies

151

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“…Although the efficiency is less than the single crystal silicon cells (18% compared to about 30%), the tradeoffs may be worth it. 27,28 Thin-film photovoltaics would require less protection from flexing and would likely weigh less overall. At some point, there is an optimal balance between efficiency and reduced weight.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HanaFlex: a large solar array for space applications

et al. 2015

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HanaFlex is a new method for deployment from a compact folded form to a large array derived from the origami flasher folding pattern. One of the unique features of this model is that the height constraints of the stowed array do not limit the deployed diameter. Additional rings can be added to increase the deployed diameter while only minimally increasing the stowed diameter. Larger solar arrays may enable longer missions in space, manned missions to distant destinations, or clean energy sources for Earth. The novel folding design of the HanaFlex array introduces many new possibilities for space exploration. This paper demonstrates the performance of the HanaFlex array in four areas: deployed stiffness, deployed strength, stowed volume specific power, and mass specific power.

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“…Recently, there has been renewed interest in fabrication of extremely thin III-V multijunction solar cells, for the large savings in weight that can be accomplished, and also for the potential for such thin III-V cells to be flexible [12][13][14]. They may be integrated into novel, flexible panel designs with not only a very low weight per unit area due to the cells, but also very low weight for the rest of the panel support structures.…”

Section: Flexible Lightweight Space Solar Cells and Panelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Photograph of a flexible, 3-cell coupon composed of thin , full-size (>26 cm 2 ) 3-junction cells. so much that the only layers remaining are the III-V epitaxially grown layers [14]. The Ge or GaAs growth substrate is removed either by lapping or etching it off, or by an epitaxial liftoff process.…”

Section: Flexible Lightweight Space Solar Cells and Panelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced III-V Multijunction Cells for Space

King¹,

Fetzer²,

Law³

et al. 2006

2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conference

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III-V solar cells have become the dominant power generation technology in space, due to their unparalleled high efficiency, reliability in the space environment, and ability to be integrated into very lightweight panels. As remarkable as these attributes are, new types of space III-V solar cells are continually reaching new heights in performance. Commercially-available multijunction solar cells with 30% conversion efficiency under the AM0 space spectrum are just around the corner. Understanding of radiation resistance and thermal cycling reliability has reached levels never before attained, and is resulting in new standards of reliability. A flurry of research activity has resulted in very-thin, flexible, and extremely lightweight space solar cells and panels in several groups around the world, capable of being folded or rolled into a smaller stowage volume for launch than has been possible to date. This approach combines the very high efficiency and reliability of III-V multijunction cells with the thin, flexible PV blanket functionality normally associated only with thin-film polycrystalline or amorphous PV technology. This paper discusses the latest developments in III-V space solar cell technology, and explores opportunities for still higher performance in the future.

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Lightweight, Flexible, High-Efficiency III-V Multijunction Cells

Cited by 14 publications

References 3 publications

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

HanaFlex: a large solar array for space applications

Advanced III-V Multijunction Cells for Space

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