PROJECT TITLE :

Experimental Results From Performance Improvement and Radiation Hardening of Inverted Metamorphic Multijunction Solar Cells

ABSTRACT:

This paper discusses results from continued development of inverted metamorphic multijunction (IMM) solar cells with air mass zero (AM0) conversion efficiencies bigger than 34%. An experimental best four-junction IMM (IMM4J) style is presented. In an endeavor to improve IMM performance in area radiation environments, one-MeV electron irradiation studies are conducted on the individual IMM4J subcells. These data are used to engineer an IMM4J structure with starting of life AM0 conversion potency of roughly thirty four% and an finish of life (EOL) remaining factor larger than eighty two%, where EOL is outlined as performance when exposure to 1-MeV electron irradiation at 1E15 e/cm$^a pair of$ fluence. Next-generation IMM designs are explored and an avenue toward AM0 conversion efficiencies of greater than thirty five% is presented.