Shoghig Mesropian

Tellurium antisites in CdZnTe

The electrical properties of CdTe and Cd1−xZnxTe crystals grown under excess tellurium by a modified Bridgman technique are critically dependent on the zinc content. Below an x value of 0.07, the as-grown CdZnTe crystals are n type while, above this value, CdZnTe crystals are p type. The origin of the shallow donor level at 0.01 eV below the conduction band is most likely singly ionized Te antisites (Te at Cd sites). The origin of the deep donor level at 0.75 eV below the conduction band is therefore doubly ionized tellurium antisites. Based on this model, the conduction type of CdZnTe crystals is determined by the results of compensation between the shallow donors of Te antisites and the shallow acceptors of Cd vacancies. High resistivity Cd0.9Zn0.1Te crystals are produced by compensating the p-type crystals with indium impurity at a low doping level of 1–5×1015 cm−3. At room temperature, CdZnTe radiation detectors can resolve the six low energy peaks in the 241Am spectrum, a performance comparable to th...

Towards an optimized all lattice-matched InAlAs/InGaAsP/InGaAs multijunction solar cell with efficiency >50%

An approach for an all lattice-matched multijunction solar cell optimized design is presented with 5.807 A lattice constant, together with a detailed analysis of its performance by means of full device modeling. The simulations show that a (1.93 eV)In_(0.37)Al_(0.63)As/(1.39 eV)In_(0.38)Ga_(0.62)As_(0.57)P_(0.43)/(0.94 eV)In_(0.38)Ga_(0.62)As 3-junction solar cell can achieve efficiencies >51% under 100-suns illumination (with V_(oc) = 3.34 V). As a key proof of concept, an equivalent 3-junction solar cell lattice-matched to InP was fabricated and tested. The independently connected single junction solar cells were also tested in a spectrum splitting configuration, showing similar performance to a monolithic tandem device, with V_(oc) = 1.8 V.

Direct Semiconductor Bonded 5J Cell for Space and Terrestrial Applications

Spectrolab has demonstrated a 2.2/1.7/1.4/1.05/0.73 eV 5J cell with an efficiency of 37.8% under 1 sun AM1.5G spectrum and 35.1% efficiency for 1 sun AM0. The top three junctions and bottom two junctions were grown on GaAs and InP substrates, respectively, by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy. The GaAs- and InP-based cells were then direct bonded to create a low-resistance, high-transmissive interface. Both the space and terrestrial cells have high 1 sun Voc between 4.75 and 4.78 V. Initial tests of the terrestrial cells at concentration are promising with efficiencies increasing up to 10× concentration to a maximum value close to 41%.

GaInP∕GaAs dual junction solar cells on Ge∕Si epitaxial templates

In this study, we report synthesis of large area (≫ 2 cm2) crack-free GaInP/GaAs double junction solar cells on 50 mm diameter Ge/Si templates fabricated using wafer bonding and ion implantation induced layer transfer techniques. Defect removal from the template film and film surface prior to epitaxial growth was found to be critical to achievement of high open circuit voltage and efficiency. Cells grown on templates prepared with chemical mechanical polishing in addition a wet chemical etch show comparable performance to control devices grown on bulk Ge substrates. Current-voltage (I–V) data under AM 1.5 illumination indicate that the short circuit current is comparable in templated and control cells, but the open circuit voltage is slightly lower (2.08V vs. 2.16V). Spectral response measurements indicate a drop in open circuit voltage due to a slight lowering of the top GaInP cell band gap. The drop in band gap is due to a difference in the indium composition in the two samples caused by the different miscut (9° vs. 6°) of the two kinds of substrates.

Progress of inverted metamorphic III–V solar cell development at Spectrolab

Inverted metamorphic (IMM) solar cells based on III–V materials have the potential to achieve solar conversion efficiencies that are significantly higher than todays state of the art solar cells which are based on the 3-junction GaInP/GaInAs/Ge design. The 3J IMM device architecture based on (Al)GaInP/GaInAs/GaInAs, for example, allows for a higher voltage solar cell by replacing the low bandgap Ge (0.67 eV) from the conventional 3J structure with the higher bandgap (∼1 eV) metamorphic GaInAs. The inverted growth simply allows the lattice-matched junctions (i.e., (Al)GaInP/GaInAs) to be grown first on the growth substrate, thereby minimizing or shielding them from the defects that arise from the metamorphic layers. Spectrolab has demonstrated 30.5% AM0 efficiency based on the 3J IMM cell architecture grown on a Ge substrate, with Voc = 2.963V, Jsc = 16.9 mA/cm2, and FF = 82.5%. In addition, 4J IMM cells have been demonstrated with Voc of 4.072 V and AM0 efficiency approaching 25%. With additional development, demonstrating 33% AM0 efficiency is expected in the near future. However, the IMM devices demand more complex processing requirements than conventional solar cells, and we demonstrate the capability to fabricate large area solar cells from standard Ge solar cell substrates.

Development of advanced space solar cells at Spectrolab

High efficiency multi-junction solar cells utilizing inverted metamorphic1,2 and semiconductor bonding technology3 are being developed at Spectrolab for use in one-sun space and near-space applications. Recently that effort has been extended to include low-concentration space applications. This paper will review the present state-of-the-art cell technologies at Spectrolab, with an emphasis on performance characterization data at both 1-sun and low-concentration operating conditions that these cells will experience in flight‥ A cell coupon utilizing IMM solar cells has been assembled and subjected to thermal cycling. Pre-and post thermal cycling data have been collected and there is no performance degradation or mechanical issues after the test.

35.8% space and 38.8% terrestrial 5J direct bonded cells

Spectrolab has fabricated a direct semiconductor bonded space solar cell with an efficiency of 35.8% under the AM0 space spectrum. Using a similar technology, Spectrolab has achieved a 5-junction (5J) direct bonded terrestrial cell with a record efficiency of 38.8% under the one-sun AM1.5G terrestrial spectrum. Efforts to further improve the 5J cell efficiency have focused on development of the top 3 junctions (T3J) grown on GaAs. Experiments with top 3J isotype cells have yielded an improvement of 1% in current and 100 mV in voltage for the T3J. Spectrolab has also made significant improvements in its direct bonding process. The improved process has increased bond strengths by more than a factor of 5 and eliminated issues with large voids.

Semiconductor-bonded III–V multijunction space solar cells

Boeing-Spectrolab recently demonstrated monolithic 5-junction space solar cells using direct semiconductor-bonding technique. The direct-bonded 5-junction cells consist of (Al)GaInP, AlGa(In)As, Ga(In)As, GaInPAs, and GaIn(P)As subcells deposited on GaAs or Ge and InP substrates. Large-area, high-mechanical strength, and low-electrical resistance direct-bonded interface was achieved to support the high-efficiency solar cell structure. Preliminary 1-sun AM0 testing of the 5-junction cells showed encouraging results. One of the direct-bonded solar cell achieved an open-circuit-voltage of 4.7V, a short-circuit current-density of 11.7 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 0.79, and an efficiency of 31.7%. Spectral response measurement of the five-junction cell revealed excellent external quantum efficiency performance for each subcell and across the direct-bonded interface. Improvements in crystal growth and current density allocation among subcells can further raise the 1-sun, AM0 conversion efficiency of the direct-bonded 5-junction cell to 35 – 40%.

Single photon counting Geiger mode InGaAs(P)/InP avalanche photodiode arrays for 3D imaging

We have designed, fabricated and characterized InGaAs/InP Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (APD) 32 x 32 arrays optimized for operation at both 1.06 and 1.55 μm wavelengths Single element devices with a thick multiplication layer thickness showed dark count rate as low as 60 kHz at a 3 V overbias, while photon detection efficiencies at a wavelength of 1.55 μm exceed 30% at 2 V overbias. Back illuminated 32 x 32 detector arrays exhibited breakdown uniformity of greater than 97% and excellent dark current uniformity. Detector arrays were integrated with low-noise read-out integrated circuits for an imaging demonstration. 3D imaging was demonstrated using 1.06 micron detector arrays.

First demonstration of monolithic InP-based InAlAs/InGaAsP/InGaAs triple junction solar cells

Spectrolab has demonstrated the first lattice matched InAlAs/InGaAsP/InGaAs triple junction solar cell grown on InP substrate. X-ray diffraction characterization shows high quality solar cell materials. Preliminary 1-sun AM1.5D testing of the triple junction solar cell shows promising results with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.8V, a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 11.0 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 64.4 %, and a 1-sun AM1.5D efficiency of 13.8%. The same cell also passes 27-suns under concentration. Improvements in layer design and crystal quality of advanced features can further raise the 1-sun and concentrated AM1.5D conversion efficiency of the InP-based triple junction cell beyond 20%.