InGaAs monolithic interconnected modules (MIMs)

Book · Wed Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:304378

Fatemi, N S; Jenkins, P P; Weizer, V G; Hoffman, Jr, R W ^[1]; Wilt, D M; Scheiman, D; Brinker, D ^[2]; Murray, C S; Riley, D ^[3]

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1. Essential Research, Inc., Cleveland, OH (United States)
2. NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)
3. Westinghouse Electric Corp., West Mifflin, PA (United States)

A monolithic interconnected module (MIM) structure has been developed for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications. The MIM device consists of many individual InGaAs cells series-connected on a single semi-insulating (S.I.) InP substrate. An infrared (IR) back surface reflector (BSR), placed on the rear surface of the substrate, returns the unused portion of the TPV radiator output spectrum back to the radiator for recuperation, thereby providing for high system efficiencies. Also, the use of a BSR reduces the requirements imposed on a front surface interference filter and may lead to using only an anti-reflection coating. As a result, MIMs are exposed to the entire radiator output, and with increasing output power density. MIMs were fabricated with an active area of 0.9 x 1 cm, and with 15 cells monolithically connected in series. Both lattice-matched and lattice-mismatched InGaAs/InP devices were fabricated, with bandgaps of 0.74 and 0.55 eV, respectively. The 0.74 eV MIMs demonstrated an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 6.16 V and a fill factor of 74.2% at a short-circuit current (Jsc) of 0.84 A/cm{sup 2}, under flashlamp testing. The 0.55 eV modules demonstrated a Voc of 4.85 V and a fill factor of 57.8% at a Jsc of 3.87 A/cm{sup 2}. The near IR reflectance (2--4 {micro}m) for both lattice-matched and lattice-mismatched structures was measured to be in the range of 80--85%. Latest electrical and optical performance results for these MIMs is presented.

• OSTI ID: 304378
• Report Number(s): CONF-970953-; TRN: IM9905%%70
• Resource Relation: Conference: 26. IEEE photovoltaic specialists conference, Anaheim, CA (United States), 29 Sep - 3 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Conference record of the twenty sixth IEEE photovoltaic specialists conference -- 1997; PB: 1477 p.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
14 SOLAR ENERGY
THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERTERS
INDIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
DESIGN
ANTIREFLECTION COATINGS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA