Response of c-Si PV arrays under monochromatic light for MEMS power supply

Abstract

There is an increasing number of portable or ubiquitous applications where compact and reliable energy supply systems are required in the low end of the power range, but where the output voltage has to be compatible with conventional electronic equipment. In this work, the option of small-sized photovoltaic arrays designed to convert monochromatic light is explored along with improvements in the fabrication process of c-Si ‘flip-chip’ assembly and c-Si monolithic arrays. Arrays having nine cells connected in series (0.8–1.4 cm2 each) have been fabricated. Photovoltaic response under several monochromatic light wavelengths has been measured and compared to reference solar AM1.5 light. Electrical results under standard solar spectrum AM1.5 and 1 SUN irradiance show open circuit voltages, Voc, short circuit current densities, Jsc, and maximum delivered powers, Pm, of: 5 V and 4.1 V, 21.7 mA cm−2 and 24.5 mA cm−2, and 4.5 mW and 3.8 mW for the ‘flip-chip’ and monolithic technologies respectively. Typically, open circuit values in the range of 4.5 V, short circuit current densities in the vicinity of 45 mA cm−2 and maximum power in the range of 2 mW can be obtained for monochromatic illumination of 830 nm wavelength with 20 mW of incident power.

Powering MEMS portable devices—a review of non-regenerative and regenerative power supply systems with special emphasis on piezoelectric energy harvesting systems

“…To address some of these issues, workers have fabricated various types of systems. These include: PV devices in series to achieve high voltage delivery for application to electrostatic MEMS [30], systems comprised of microphotovoltaic arrays coupled with a microwave antenna [31], thermal integral microgeneration (TIMGen) systems for use with solar-or fuelderived heat [32] and PV arrays subjected to laser light of different wavelengths for application to laser-or LED-driven PV systems [33]. Microcrystalline silicon and polysilicon have also been investigated for use in the middle and bottom cells of nip (n-type, intrinsic, p-type layers) triple-junction cells [137].…”

Silicon-on-insulator-based complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated optoelectronic platform for biomedical applications

“…This is similar to that reported by other researchers working on PV devices illuminated by monochromatic illumination. 25 The expected output of the design without the metal grid is calculated by determining the percentage of absorbed input optical signal and assuming that all of it is converted into electrical current at the device terminals. Using Eq.…”

Progress and opportunities in high-voltage microactuator powering technology towards one-chip MEMS

“…Depending on the contact place, they can be further divided into two categories: top-bottom contact 52,55,56) [Fig. 11(b)] and top-top contact 51,53,54) [Fig. 11(c)].…”