Enhancement of radiation tolerance with the use of a doping superlattice solar cell

Michael A. Slocum; David V. Forbes; Seth M. Hubbard

doi:10.1117/12.2041457

7 March 2014 Enhancement of radiation tolerance with the use of a doping superlattice solar cell

Michael A. Slocum, David V. Forbes, Seth M. Hubbard

Proceedings Volume 8981, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices III; 89810V (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2041457
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2014, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Solar cells utilizing doping superlattices in the active region of the device have been proposed as an alternative design to increase radiation hardness. Multiple diodes are connected together in parallel, where each diode can be as thin or thick as the design requires. Thinning the doped layers reduces the diffusion length requirements ensuring efficient carrier collection and maintenance of short circuit current. Experimental comparisons between nipi and a conventional pin solar cells that were irradiated with 1 MeV electrons at fluences from 4x10¹⁴ to 2x10¹⁵ e⁻/cm² show much more efficient maintenance of efficiency for the nipi design, maintaining nearly 100% efficiency up to a final dose of 2x10¹⁵ e⁻/cm². Further simulations have indicated that the efficient maintenance of voltage and fill factor are likely due to traps created in the nipi solar cell during the fabrication process. Beginning of life voltage and efficiency values can be improved significantly by limiting the trap density, while this has a minor impact on the efficiency comparison between a nipi and conventional device with respect to radiation.

Citation Download Citation

Michael A. Slocum, David V. Forbes, and Seth M. Hubbard "Enhancement of radiation tolerance with the use of a doping superlattice solar cell", Proc. SPIE 8981, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices III, 89810V (7 March 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2041457

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available