This paper describes a lightweight, radiation-hard, high-performance, ultra-thin silicon solar cell that incorporates light trapping and a cover glass as an integral part of the device. The manufacturing feasibility of high specific power thin silicon solar cells has been demonstrated experimentally and with a model. Light-trapping structures have been fabricated and the light trapping demonstrated experimentally. The authors' design uses a micro-machined, grooved back surface to increase the optical path length by a factor of 20. This silicon solar cell will be highly tolerant to radiation because the base width is less than 25 microns making it insensitive to reduction in minority-carrier lifetime. Since the silicon is bonded without silicone adhesives, this solar cell will also be insensitive to UV degradation. These solar cells are designed as a form, fit, and function replacement for existing state of the art silicon solar cells with the effect of simultaneously increasing specific power, power/area, and power supply life. Using a 3-mil thick cover glass and a 0.3 g/cm 2 supporting Al honeycomb, a specific power for the solar cell plus cover glass and honeycomb of 80.2 W/Kg is projected.
Direct glass bonded high specific power silicon solar cells for space applications
Direkt glasgebundene Silizium-Solarzellen hoher spezifischer Leistung für Weltraumanwendungen
1993
5 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 4 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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