Production ready 30% efficient triple junction space solar cells

Spectrolab presents its next production GaInP/GaAs/Ge space triple junction solar cell, the XTJ space solar cell, averaging 29.8% efficiency at maximum power (AM0, 28°C, 135.3 mW/cm 2 ) at beginning-of-life (BOL) testing of large populations (845 cells) of large-area solar cells without coverglass....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	2008 33rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference pp. 1 - 4
Main Authors:	Fetzer, Chris, Jun, Bongim, Edmondson, Kenneth, Khemthong, Scott, Rouhani, Kaveh, Cravens, Robert, Bardfield, Rina, Gillanders, Mark
Format:	Conference Proceeding
Language:	English
Published:	IEEE 01-05-2008
Subjects:	Aerospace engineering Costs Electron optics Gallium arsenide Photovoltaic cells Power engineering and energy Production Testing Thermal degradation Thermal engineering
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Spectrolab presents its next production GaInP/GaAs/Ge space triple junction solar cell, the XTJ space solar cell, averaging 29.8% efficiency at maximum power (AM0, 28°C, 135.3 mW/cm 2 ) at beginning-of-life (BOL) testing of large populations (845 cells) of large-area solar cells without coverglass. Bare cells from this population with area of 26.62 cm 2 have been tested to a maximum efficiency of 31.1% under the same AM0 testing. Additional optical and electrical performance characterization will be presented. XTJ is more than a BOL power improvement over heritage products. Bare cell radiation testing shows power retention at max power (NP mp ) of 0.89 and 0.84 after irradiation with 1-MeV energy electrons to a fluence of 5e14 cm −2 and 1e15 cm −2 , respectively. Environmental degradation testing of XTJ parts shows only 1.7% degradation for more than 4000 hours at 250°C and no degradation after 90 days at 95% r.h. and 45°C. Together these characteristics enable XTJ to be a 7% improvement in end-of-life cost of power on space flight panel over Spectrolab's 28% BOL efficient UTJ. Finally, XTJ engineering confidence thermal cycle testing and qualification status to the AIAA S-111-2005 standard will be elaborated.
ISBN:	9781424416400 142441640X
ISSN:	0160-8371
DOI:	10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922620