Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T15:05:46.489Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

InAs Quantum Dot Development for Enhanced InGaAs Space Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

R. P. Raffaelle
Affiliation:
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623
Samar Sinharoy
Affiliation:
Essential Research Incorporated, Cleveland, OH 44135
C. William King
Affiliation:
Essential Research Incorporated, Cleveland, OH 44135
S. G. Bailey
Affiliation:
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135
Get access

Abstract

The majority of high-efficiency space solar cells being produced today are based on multi-junction devices of lattice-matched III-V materials. An alternative which has been receiving an increasing amount of attention is the lattice mis-matched or metamorphic approach to multi-junction cell development. In the metamorphic triple junction cell under development by ERI and its partners, the InGaAs junction (bottom cell) of the three-cell stack is the current limiting entity, due to the current matching which must be maintained through the device. This limitation may be addressed through the incorporation of InAs quantum dot array into the depletion region of an InGaAs cell. The InAs quantum dots in the InGaAs cell will provide sub-gap absorption and thus improve its short circuit current. This cell could then be integrated into the three-cell stack to achieve a space solar cell whose efficiency exceeds current state-of-the-art standards. A theoretical estimate predicts that a InGaAlP(1.95eV)/InGaAsP(1.35 eV)/InGaAs(1.2 eV) triple junction cell incorporating quantum dots to improve the bottom cell current would have an efficiency exceeding 40%. In addition, theoretical estimates have demonstrated that the use of quantum dot structures may also hold other cell benefits such as improved temperature coefficients and better radiation tolerance, which are especially important for utilization in space. As a first step towards achieving that goal, we have initiated the development of InAs quantum dots on lattice-mismatched InGaAs (1.2 eV bandgap) grown epitaxially on GaAs by metallorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). These quantum dots have been characterized via photoluminescence (PL) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). A correlation exists between the quantum dot size and resulting optical band structure and can be controlled via the synthesis parameters. Quantum dots were incorporated into prototype InGaAs devices. A comparison of the resulting photovoltaic efficiency under simulated 1 sun intensity and air mass zero (AM0) illumination and spectral response demonstrated that an improvement in the long-wavelength photoconversion efficiency was achieved through the incorporation of the InAs quantum dots.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Sinharoy, S., Patton, M. O., Valko, T. M. Sr, and Weizer, V. G., “Progress in the Development of Metamorphic Multi-junction III-V Space Solar Cells”, Progr. In Photovoltaics: Res. & Appl. 10, 427 (2002).Google Scholar
[2] Dimroth, Frank, Lanyi, Peter, Meusel, Mathias, Schubert, Ute, and Bett, Andreas W., “New Lattice-mismatched GaInP/GaInAs Tandem Solar Cell Concepts for High Efficiency Space and Terrestrial Concentrator Solar Cells”, Proc. 16th European Photovoltaic Solar energy Conf. Glasgow, UK 15 May, 2000Google Scholar
[3] Sinharoy, Samar, Smith, Mark A., Weizer, Victor G., Pal, AnnaMaria, Khan, Osman, Scheiman, David A., and Jenkins, Philip P., “1.62 eV/1.1 eV InGaP/InGaAs Dual-junction Solar Cell Development on Lattice-mismatched GaAs”, Proc. 28th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conerence, pp12851288, Anchorage, AK, 15 – 22 Sept. 2000.Google Scholar
[4] Patton, M. O., Sinharoy, S., Weizer, V. G., “Multi-junction Photovoltaic Cell”, U.S. patent #US6,660,928B1, Dec. 9 (2003).Google Scholar
[5] Luque, A. and Marti, A., Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, N26, 5014 (1997).Google Scholar
[6] Kamprchum, S., Kiravittaya, S., Songmuang, R., Thainoi, S., Kanjanchuchai, S., Sawadsaringkam, M., and Panyakeow, S., 2002 IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, New Orleans, LA, May 2024 (2002).Google Scholar
[7] Petroff, P.M. and DenBaars, S.P., Superlattice Microstructures, 15, 15 (1994).Google Scholar
[8] Kiravittaya, S., Songmuang, R., Thainoi, S., Soppitpan, S., Kanjanchuchai, S., Ratanathammapan, S., Sawadsaringkam, M., and Panyakeow, S., 28th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, Anchorage, AK (2000).Google Scholar
[9] Kiravittaya, S., Manmontri, U., Soppitpan, S., Ratanathammapan, S., Antarasena, C., Sawadsaringkam, M., and Panyakeow, S., Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells 68, 8995 (2001).Google Scholar