SBIR/STTR Research Award
ALL BACK CONTACT ULTRA-THIN GaAs SOLAR CELL WITH ZERO GRID OBSCURATION
Award amount
$592,035Program and phase
SBIR · Phase IIAward year
1995Award details
- Awarding agency
- Department of Defense
- Branch
- Air Force
- Recipient company
- ASTROPOWER, INC.
- Proposal award date
- Not reported
- Contract end date
- Not reported
- UEI
- Not reported
- Solicitation number
- Not reported
- Topic code
- Not reported
Research abstract
AstroPower proposes to develop a lightweight, high performance, ultra-thin electrostatically bonded GaAs solar cell with an all back contact, zero-grid obscuration structure. The unique design incorporates light trapping, adhesiveless cover slide bonding, and eliminates grid shading. This innovation will increase efficiency and specific power due to the higer open circuit voltage and short circuit current obtainable from a properly designed thin device. The specific power for this novel solar cell is projected to be 3549 W/kg for an AMO efficiency of 24.5%. Thermal stability and tolerance to UV degradation are inherent to the thin device structure and electrostatically bonded 3-mil cover slide. Successful development of this technology will result in a revolutionary improvement in survivability performance, and manufacturability of lightweight GaAs solar cell products for future Earth-orbiting science and space exploration missions.
Technology keywords
Not reported