Thin-film gallium arsenide homojunction solar cells on recrystallized germanium and large-grain germanium substrates

Journal Article · Tue Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.337379· OSTI ID:5618536

Chu, S S; Chu, T L; Han, Y X

Polycrystalline gallium arsenide films of 10-..mu..m thickness deposited on tungsten/graphite substrates by the reaction between gallium, hydrogen chloride, and arsine have been used for the fabrication of thin-film homojunction solar cells. The major problem associated with polycrystalline gallium arsenide thin-film cells is the grain-boundary shunting effect. In order to prepare solar cells with conversion efficiency higher than 10%, gallium arsenide films with large grains are necessary. Unlike gallium arsenide, germanium films can be easily recrystallized to enhance the grain size. Thin-film gallium arsenide solar cells of the p/sup +//n configuration with an AM1 efficiency of about 10% have been prepared using recrystallized germanium and large-grain germanium substrates.

• Research Organization: Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275
• OSTI ID: 5618536
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 60:2; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
COATINGS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DATA
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FABRICATION
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
GERMANIUM
GRAIN SIZE
HOMOJUNCTIONS
INFORMATION
JUNCTIONS
METALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NUMERICAL DATA
P-N JUNCTIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PNICTIDES
RECRYSTALLIZATION
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SIZE
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
VAPOR DEPOSITED COATINGS