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Title: Laboratory instrumentation and techniques for characterizing multi-junction solar cells for space applications

Abstract

Multi-junction solar cells are attractive for space applications because they can be designed to convert a larger fraction of AMO into electrical power at a lower cost than single-junction cells. The performance of multi-junction cells is much more sensitive to the spectral irradiance of the illuminating source than single-junction cells. The design of high efficiency multi-junction cells for space applications requires matching the optoelectronic properties of the junctions to AMO spectral irradiance. Unlike single-junction cells, it is not possible to carry out quantum efficiency measurements using only a monochromatic probe beam and determining the cell short-circuit current assuming linearity of the quantum efficiency. Additionally, current-voltage characteristics can not be calculated from measurements under non-AMO light sources using spectral-correction methods. There are reports in the literature on characterizing the performance of multi junction cells by measuring and convoluting the quantum efficiency of each junction with the spectral irradiance; the technique is of limited value for the characterization of cell performance under AMO power-generating conditions. The authors report the results of research to develop instrumentation and techniques for characterizing multi junction solar cells for space . An integrated system is described which consists of a standard lamp, spectral radiometer, dual-source solar simulator,more » and personal computer based current-voltage and quantum efficiency equipment. The spectral radiometer is calibrated regularly using the tungsten-halogen standard lamp which has a calibration based on NIST scales. The solar simulator produces the light bias beam for current-voltage and cell quantum efficiency measurements. The calibrated spectral radiometer is used to `fit` the spectral irradiance of the dual-source solar simulator to WRL AMO data.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
177662
Report Number(s):
N-96-15042; NASA-CP-10180; NAS-1.55:10180; E-9943; NIPS-95-05337; CONF-9510288-
TRN: 9615061
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 14. space photovoltaic research and technology conference, Cleveland, OH (United States), 24-26 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 14th Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology Conference (SPRAT 14); Landis, G.; PB: 47 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; SOLAR CELLS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; TEST FACILITIES; CALIBRATION; DESIGN; RADIOMETERS; SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS; SOLAR SIMULATORS; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; QUANTUM EFFICIENCY; SENSITIVITY; TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION

Citation Formats

Woodyard, J R. Laboratory instrumentation and techniques for characterizing multi-junction solar cells for space applications. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Woodyard, J R. Laboratory instrumentation and techniques for characterizing multi-junction solar cells for space applications. United States.
Woodyard, J R. 1995. "Laboratory instrumentation and techniques for characterizing multi-junction solar cells for space applications". United States.
@article{osti_177662,
title = {Laboratory instrumentation and techniques for characterizing multi-junction solar cells for space applications},
author = {Woodyard, J R},
abstractNote = {Multi-junction solar cells are attractive for space applications because they can be designed to convert a larger fraction of AMO into electrical power at a lower cost than single-junction cells. The performance of multi-junction cells is much more sensitive to the spectral irradiance of the illuminating source than single-junction cells. The design of high efficiency multi-junction cells for space applications requires matching the optoelectronic properties of the junctions to AMO spectral irradiance. Unlike single-junction cells, it is not possible to carry out quantum efficiency measurements using only a monochromatic probe beam and determining the cell short-circuit current assuming linearity of the quantum efficiency. Additionally, current-voltage characteristics can not be calculated from measurements under non-AMO light sources using spectral-correction methods. There are reports in the literature on characterizing the performance of multi junction cells by measuring and convoluting the quantum efficiency of each junction with the spectral irradiance; the technique is of limited value for the characterization of cell performance under AMO power-generating conditions. The authors report the results of research to develop instrumentation and techniques for characterizing multi junction solar cells for space . An integrated system is described which consists of a standard lamp, spectral radiometer, dual-source solar simulator, and personal computer based current-voltage and quantum efficiency equipment. The spectral radiometer is calibrated regularly using the tungsten-halogen standard lamp which has a calibration based on NIST scales. The solar simulator produces the light bias beam for current-voltage and cell quantum efficiency measurements. The calibrated spectral radiometer is used to `fit` the spectral irradiance of the dual-source solar simulator to WRL AMO data.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/177662}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}

Conference:
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