Investigation of Off-Stoichiometry in Ternary Nitrides by EDS and HRTEM

Mis, Allison; Greenaway, Ann; Melamed, Celeste; Tamboli, Adele; Brennecka, Geoff

doi:10.1017/s1431927620017997

Title: Investigation of Off-Stoichiometry in Ternary Nitrides by EDS and HRTEM

Abstract

We demonstrate an inverted metamorphic multijunction (IMM) photovoltaic cell comprising lattice-mismatched 1.2 eV AlGaInAs and 1.0 eV GaInAs junctions optimized for high-temperature thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications. This device differs from traditional IMM solar cells because the mismatched junctions are grown at a single lattice constant. This architecture enables removal of the compositionally graded buffer which otherwise filters light from the junctions below and absorbs sub-bandgap light via free-carrier absorption. Sub-bandgap absorption dramatically reduces the efficiency of TPV systems using high reflectivity cells to enable bandedge spectrum filtering. Three components required development to enable this device: 1) a lattice-mismatched 1.2 eV AlGaInAs junction, 2) a metamorphic contact layer grown after the graded buffer, and 3) a transparent tunnel junction that sits in front of the 1.0 eV GaInAs junction. Growth conditions that minimize oxygen defect incorporation maximize AlGaInAs cell quality, enabling a 0.41 V bandgap open circuit voltage offset at 22 mA/cm2 under AM1.5D. A mismatched GaInAs:Se layer is developed as a low resistance contact. Lastly we develop a GaAsSb:C/GaInP:Se tunnel junction suitable for high-power densities with more transparency than the GaAsSb:C/GaInP:Se structure used in past IMM cells. We characterize the tandem device under a high-intensity spectrum that approximates the emission frommore »« less

Authors:

Mis, Allison ^[1]; Greenaway, Ann ^[2]; Melamed, Celeste ^[1]; Tamboli, Adele ^[2]; Brennecka, Geoff ^[1]

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Publication Date:: Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

OSTI Identifier:: 1710153

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5K00-78121
Journal ID: ISSN 1431-9276; MainId:32030;UUID:5829f8a7-5389-4ad8-9c09-5699e46db27f;MainAdminID:18711; TRN: US2204644

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Microscopy and Microanalysis

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 26; Journal Issue: S2; Journal ID: ISSN 1431-9276

Publisher:: Microscopy Society of America (MSA)

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; semiconductors; ternary nitrides; optoelectronics

Citation Formats


                    Mis, Allison, Greenaway, Ann, Melamed, Celeste, Tamboli, Adele, and Brennecka, Geoff. Investigation of Off-Stoichiometry in Ternary Nitrides by EDS and HRTEM.  United States: N. p., 2020. 
Web.  doi:10.1017/s1431927620017997.

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                    Mis, Allison, Greenaway, Ann, Melamed, Celeste, Tamboli, Adele, & Brennecka, Geoff. Investigation of Off-Stoichiometry in Ternary Nitrides by EDS and HRTEM.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1017/s1431927620017997

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                    Mis, Allison, Greenaway, Ann, Melamed, Celeste, Tamboli, Adele, and Brennecka, Geoff. Thu .  
"Investigation of Off-Stoichiometry in Ternary Nitrides by EDS and HRTEM".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1017/s1431927620017997.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1710153.

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@article{osti_1710153,

  title        = {Investigation of Off-Stoichiometry in Ternary Nitrides by EDS and HRTEM},

  author       = {Mis, Allison and Greenaway, Ann and Melamed, Celeste and Tamboli, Adele and Brennecka, Geoff},

  abstractNote = {We demonstrate an inverted metamorphic multijunction (IMM) photovoltaic cell comprising lattice-mismatched 1.2 eV AlGaInAs and 1.0 eV GaInAs junctions optimized for high-temperature thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications. This device differs from traditional IMM solar cells because the mismatched junctions are grown at a single lattice constant. This architecture enables removal of the compositionally graded buffer which otherwise filters light from the junctions below and absorbs sub-bandgap light via free-carrier absorption. Sub-bandgap absorption dramatically reduces the efficiency of TPV systems using high reflectivity cells to enable bandedge spectrum filtering. Three components required development to enable this device: 1) a lattice-mismatched 1.2 eV AlGaInAs junction, 2) a metamorphic contact layer grown after the graded buffer, and 3) a transparent tunnel junction that sits in front of the 1.0 eV GaInAs junction. Growth conditions that minimize oxygen defect incorporation maximize AlGaInAs cell quality, enabling a 0.41 V bandgap open circuit voltage offset at 22 mA/cm2 under AM1.5D. A mismatched GaInAs:Se layer is developed as a low resistance contact. Lastly we develop a GaAsSb:C/GaInP:Se tunnel junction suitable for high-power densities with more transparency than the GaAsSb:C/GaInP:Se structure used in past IMM cells. We characterize the tandem device under a high-intensity spectrum that approximates the emission from a 2150 °C blackbody radiator and deduce a projected ideal TPV efficiency of 39.9% at ~30% of the blackbody irradiance, and 36% ideal TPV efficiency under the full 118 W/cm2 irradiance. Improvements to the back-surface reflectivity and series resistance are expected to increase the ideal TPV efficiency well above 40%.},

  doi          = {10.1017/s1431927620017997},

  journal      = {Microscopy and Microanalysis},

  number       = S2,

  volume       = 26,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2020},

  month        = {Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2020}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Composition, structure, and semiconducting properties of Mg _x Zr _{2− x} N ₂ thin films
journal, May 2019

Bauers, Sage R.; Hamann, Danielle M.; Patterson, Ashlea
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 58, Issue SC
DOI: 10.7567/1347-4065/ab0f0f

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Title: Investigation of Off-Stoichiometry in Ternary Nitrides by EDS and HRTEM

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Citation Formats

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Composition, structure, and semiconducting properties of Mg _x Zr _{2− x} N ₂ thin films
journal, May 2019