HIGHLY TEMPERATURE-STABLE LOW SHADOW LOSS METALLIZATION FOR SUPERIOR SPACE SOLAR CELLS

THE PROPOSED THREE-PHASE PROGRAM INVESTIGATES THE INTEGRATION OF A VERY STABLE METALLIZATION SYSTEM WITH A METAL FORMATION PROCESS YIELDING HIGHLY EFFICIENT LOW-LOSS CONFIGURATION. THE LOW-LOSS METALLIZATION COMPRISES HIGH-ASPECT-RATIO GRID LINES WHICH CAN BE MADE TALL TO LIMIT GRID SERIES RESISTANCE WITHOUT INCREASING SHADOW LOSS. HIGH TEMPERATURE STABILITY IS OBTAINED BY EMPLOYING TIN DIFFUSION BARRIERS. IN PHASE I WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF COMBINING THESE TECHNIQUES WITH A HIGH-EFFICIENCY CELL DESIGN TO OBTAIN A SUPERIOR GAAS SPACE SOLAR CELL. COMPATIBILITY WITH PRESENT DAY PRODUCTION PROCESSES IS ADDRESSED. IN PHASE II, RESEARCH LEADING TO PROTOTYPE CELLS WILL BE CARRIED OUT. IN PHASE III THE RESULTANT KNOW-HOW WILL BE COMMERCIALIZED.