Improved Structure for Radiation Hardened Solid State Photovoltaic Technology

One of the primary requirements for reliable space systems technology is a high-efficiency photovoltaic power source that is insensitive to the radiation damage intrinsic to, e.g., the van Allen belt. The different constraints of terrestrial applications have led to a substantial effort devoted to developing relatively low efficiency photovoltaic solar cells based upon improvements in materials of low quality but even lower cost. We propose an alternative: An innovative structures that permits low quality material to still achieve high efficiency operations, and high quality material to achieve still higher efficiency operation. This structure permits us to design solar cells for high efficiency operation after radiation damage has degraded material quality substantially for space applications, and to operate with low quality but low cost materials for terrestrial applications.| Benefits: High efficiency radiation-hardened solar cells will permit long term operation in such areas as the van Allen belt, opening new orbits for defense and communications satellites. The same structure may lead to low-cost terrestrial cells.|