10 MeV proton irradiation effects on GaInP/GaAs/Ge concentrator solar cells and their component subcells

In this paper, the experimental results of a 10 MeV proton irradiation on concentrator GaInP/GaAs/Ge lattice-matched triple-junction solar cells and their corresponding subcells are examined. Electro-optical characterization such as external quantum efficiency, light and dark I-V measurements, is pe...

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Published in:Solar energy materials and solar cells 2017-01, Vol.159, p.576-582
Main Authors: Ochoa, M., Yaccuzzi, E., Espinet-González, P., Barrera, M., Barrigón, E., Ibarra, M.L., Contreras, Yedileth, García, J., López, E., Alurralde, M., Algora, C., Godfrin, E., Rey-Stolle, I., Plá, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Concentrators
Earth orbits
End of life
Energy efficiency
Gallium arsenide
Irradiation
Lattice matching
Low earth orbits
Optical properties
Optoelectronics
Photovoltaic cells
Power loss
Proton irradiation
Protons
Quantum efficiency
Radiation damage
Satellites
Solar cells
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Summary:In this paper, the experimental results of a 10 MeV proton irradiation on concentrator GaInP/GaAs/Ge lattice-matched triple-junction solar cells and their corresponding subcells are examined. Electro-optical characterization such as external quantum efficiency, light and dark I-V measurements, is performed together with theoretical device modeling in order to guide the analysis of the degradation behavior. The GaInP (on Ge) and Ge cell showed a power loss between beginning of life and end of life of about 4% while the GaInP/GaAs/Ge and GaAs solar cells exhibited the highest damage measured of 12% and 10%, respectively for an irradiation fluence equivalent to an 8-years satellite mission in Low Earth Orbit. The results from single-junction solar cells correlate well with those of triple-junction solar cells. The performance of concentrator solar cells structures is similar to that of traditional space-targeted designs reported in literature suggesting that no special changes may be required to use triple junction concentrator solar cells in space.
ISSN:0927-0248
DOI:10.1016/j.solmat.2016.09.042