AlGaAs top solar cell for mechanical attachment in a multi-junction tandem concentrator solar cell stack
Abstract
The AstroPower self-supporting, transparent AlGaAs top solar cell can be stacked upon any well-developed bottom solar cell for improved system performance. This is an approach to improve the performance and scale of space photovoltaic power systems. Mechanically stacked tandem solar cell concentrator systems based on the AlGaAs top concentrator solar cell can provide near term efficiencies of 36 percent (AMO, 100x). Possible tandem stack efficiencies greater than 38 percent (100x, AMO) are feasible with a careful selection of materials. In a three solar cell stack, system efficiencies exceed 41 percent (100x, AMO). These device results demonstrate a practical solution for a state-of-the-art top solar cell for attachment to an existing, well-developed solar cell.
- Publication:
-
Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology, 1989
- Pub Date:
- January 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991sprt.rept...60D
- Keywords:
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- Aluminum Gallium Arsenides;
- Semiconductor Junctions;
- Solar Cells;
- Spacecraft Power Supplies;
- Structural Design;
- Energy Conversion Efficiency;
- Energy Gaps (Solid State);
- Transparence;
- Energy Production and Conversion