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At least 829 records · Page 46
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

On the thermoelastic analysis of solar cell arrays and related material properties

Accurate prediction of failure of solar cell arrays requires accuracy in the computation of thermally induced stresses. This was accomplished by using the finite element technique. Improved procedures for stress calculation were introduced together with failure criteria capable of describing a wide range of ductile and brittle material behavior. The stress distribution and associated failure mechanisms in the N-interconnect junction of two solar cell designs were then studied. In such stress and failure analysis, it is essential to know the thermomechanical properties of the materials involved. Measurements were made of properties of materials suitable for the design of lightweight arrays: microsheet-0211 glass material for the solar cell filter, and Kapton-H, Kapton F, Teflon, Tedlar, and Mica Ply PG-402 for lightweight substrates. The temperature-dependence of the thermal coefficient of expansion for these materials was determined together with other properties such as the elastic moduli, Poisson's ratio, and the stress-strain behavior up to failure.

Salama, M. A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

On-Device Lead Detention for Perovskite Solar Cells

As the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have reached above 25.5%, the commercialization of PSCs appears to be imminent due to its lower fabrication cost, simpler manufacturing processes, and larger processing area over Si-based solar cells that dominate the current photovoltaic (PV) market. While many efforts have focused on tackling the stability and scalability issues with promising advances, the potential lead (Pb) toxicity issue has remained a concern of PSCs. Unlike the metallic Pb, the Pb 2+ in perovskite generally exhibit high solubility in water. However, Pb 2+ has so far appeared to be a necessary component in all high-efficiency PSCs. Handful methods have been explored to mitigate the potential Pb2+ leaking issue, which can be generally categorized as physical encapsulation and our pioneering chemical absorption method, which was extended by others later. Since device damage is inevitable in outdoor conditions, physical encapsulation alone is not sufficient to mitigate the long-term risk of leakage of soluble Pb 2+ to the environment under severe weather conditions. As a result, the chemical absorption approach has recently attracted significant attention as a more effective solution to confine the potential lead leakage. Hence, it is of great value to develop durable and highly efficient Pb-absorbing components that can be conveniently mounted onto the standard PSC stack as an add-on accessory in line with the encapsulation of PSCs instead of modifying the standard device fabrication and/or device configuration.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Effect of ZnO and PEDOT:PSS charge selective layers on photovoltage of cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) heterojunction solar cells

Electrochemical deposition (ECD) of Cu 2 O provides a scalable and low temperature pathway to solar cells with a theoretical high energy conversion efficiency of 23%, based on the 2.0–2.2 eV band gap of Cu 2 O. However, existing ECD-Cu 2 O devices are plagued by poor crystallinity and low selectivity of the electron and hole transport layers. Here we use Vibrating Kelvin Probe Surface Photovoltage Spectroscopy (VKP-SPV) to probe the charge transfer selectivity in FTO/ZnO/Cu 2 O/PEDOT:PSS/Ni heterojunction solar cells. Selective electron extraction is achieved at the ZnO back contact to Cu 2 O, as confirmed by a negative surface photovoltage signal. While the uncoated Cu 2 O surface is electron-selective due to the formation of a hole depletion layer, spin coating of a PEDOT:PSS film turns it into a hole-selective interface. After adding nickel metal ink top electrodes, functional 1.0 cm 2 solar cells with power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 0.07%, 195 mV open-circuit voltage, and 1.28 mA cm –2 short-circuit photocurrent are achieved. The photovoltaic performance is higher for aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) substrates than for fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) due to the presence of a n-/p-junction that further increases the electron selectivity of the AZO/ZnO/Cu 2 O contacts. Overall, this work demonstrates the first application of PEDOT:PSS as a hole transport layer (HTL) for Cu 2 O and the use of VKP-SPV to measure the photovoltage contributions of the Cu 2 O interfaces. Furthermore, the ability to fabricate Cu 2 O solar cells at near room temperature without the use of vacuum methods or rare elements is an important step towards a scalable Cu 2 O PV technology.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ultraviolet irradiation at elevated temperatures and thermal cycling in vacuum of FEP-A covered silicon solar cells

Experiments were designed and performed on silicon solar cells covered with heat-bonded FEP-A in an effort to explain the rapid degeneration of open-circuit voltage and maximum power observered on cells of this type included in an experiment on the ATS-6 spacecraft. Solar cells were exposed to ultraviolet light in vacuum at temperatures ranging from 30 to 105 C. The samples were then subjected to thermal cycling from 130 to -130 C. Inspection following irradiation indicated that all the covers remained physically intact. However, during the temperature cycling heat-bonded covers showed cracking. The test showed that heat-bonded FEP-A covers embrittle during UV exposure and the embrittlement is dependent upon sample temperature during irradiation. The results of the experiment suggest a probable mechanism for the degradation of the FEP-A cells on ATS-6.

Broder, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Potential for use of indium phosphide solar cells in the space radiation environment

Indium phosphide solar cells were observed to have significantly higher radiation resistance than either GaAs or Si after exposure to 10 MeV proton irradiation data and previous 1 MeV electron data together with projected efficiencies for InP, it was found that these latter cells produced more output power than either GaAs or Si after specified fluences of 10 MeV protons and 1 MeV electrons. Estimates of expected performance in a proton dominated space orbit yielded much less degradation for InP when compared to the remaining two cell types. It was concluded that, with additional development to increase efficiency, InP solar cells would perform significantly better than either GaAs or Si in the space radiation environment.

Weinberg, I.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Potential for use of InP solar cells in the space radiation environment

Indium phosphide solar cells were observed to have significantly higher radiation resistance than either GaAs or Si after exposure to 10 MeV proton irradiation data and previous 1 MeV electron data together with projected efficiencies for InP, it was found that these latter cells produced more output power than either GaAs or Si after specified fluences of 10 MeV protons and 1 MeV electrons. Estimates of expected performance in a proton dominated space orbit yielded much less degradation for InP when compared to the remaining two cell types. It was concluded that, with additional development to increase efficiency, InP solar cells would perform significantly better than either GaAs or Si in the space radiation environment.

Weinberg, I.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Evaluation of silicon-on-ceramic material for low-cost solar cells

The silicon-on-ceramic (SOC) process produces thin layers of silicon on inexpensive ceramic substrates. The layers are produced by unidirectional solidification of molten silicon, and are polycrystalline. Solar cells made from SOC material have performed with a conversion efficiency of 10.5%. In connection with the objective to improve the efficiency of SOC solar cells, an investigation was conducted to assess the relative importance of grain boundaries and impurities. In order to separate the two effects, light-beam-induced current (LBIC) measurements of the short-circuit current were made using a micron-sized light beam from a monochromator. The LBIC measurements are closely related to solar cell performance since the technique identifies the various spatial and spectral contributions to solar cell current. On the basis of the obtained results, it appears that structural defects are more important than chemical defects in limiting the performance of present SOC solar cells.

Zook, J. D.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Triple-junction solar cells with 39.5% terrestrial and 34.2% space efficiency enabled by thick quantum well superlattices

Multijunction solar cell design is guided by both the theoretical optimal bandgap combination as well as the realistic limitations to materials with these bandgaps. For instance, triple-junction III-V multijunction solar cells commonly use GaAs as a middle cell because of its near-perfect material quality, despite its bandgap being higher than optimal for the global spectrum. Here, we modify the middle cell bandgap using thick GaInAs/GaAsP strain-balanced quantum well (QW) solar cells with excellent voltage and absorption. Additionally, these high-performance QWs are incorporated into a triple-junction inverted metamorphic multijunction device consisting of a GaInP top cell, GaInAs/GaAsP QW middle cell, and lattice-mismatched GaInAs bottom cell, each of which has been highly optimized. We demonstrate triple-junction efficiencies of 39.5% and 34.2% under the AM1.5 global and AM0 space spectra, respectively, and the global efficiency is higher than previous record six-junction devices.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1974

Proton irradiation of conventional and lithium solar cells - 11-37 MeV

Conventional n/p and lithium solar cells were irradiated with 11- to 37-MeV protons. The energy dependence of the solar cell degradation, calculated from electrical parameters and lifetime measurements, is shown to be very slight. Damage coefficients for the n/p cells are calculated. Annealing characteristics of both the lithium cells and the n/p cells are presented.

Anspaugh, B. E.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Semi-Transparent Perovskite Solar Cells in a Stacked Tandem Module: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-19-00810

This project seeks to develop device design, materials composition, and processing tools and parameters to fabricate semi-transparent perovskite solar cells and modules for application in stand-alone products or added to other solar cells in a mechanically stacked tandem configuration. This technology presents significant advanced manufacturing challenges and opportunities in getting to scale, including development of perovskite inks, scalable perovskite and heterojunction deposition and annealing processes, heterojunction composition, transparent electrode composition and deposition process, anti-reflection layer composition and deposition process, and cell to module integration processes. Modification 5: The proposed project seeks to develop device design, materials composition, and processing tools and parameters to fabricate semi-transparent perovskite solar cells and modules for application in stand-alone products or added to other solar cells in a mechanically-stacked tandem configuration. This technology presents significant advanced manufacturing challenges and opportunities in getting to scale, including development of perovskite inks, scalable perovskite and heterojunction deposition and annealing processes, heterojunction composition, transparent electrode composition and deposition process, passivation layers including in module scribes, anti-reflection layer composition and deposition process, and cell to module integration processes. Advanced metrology and characterization will be performed on perovskite films, cells and module. Furthermore, we will examine module or materials recycling for circular economy considerations. Modifcation 6: Gigahertz frequency microwave pump-probe spectroscopies are highly sensitive to thin film semiconductor photoconductivity of individual and stacks of layers that comprise perovskite solar cells. As such, these techniques will be used to qualify reproducibility and quality correlations during the manufacturing process. Modification 7: Mechanical adhesion of top contacts within perovskite modules significantly impacts the durability of the module when exposed to accelerated degradation testing. The adhesion between the perovskite/transport layer interface and the transport layer/top contact interface are both very sensitive small changes in processing. ALD processing conditions of the transport layer will be tuned to optimize the mechanical adhesion within the perovskite module stack.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1996

Space qualification of UV and IR reflecting coverslides for GaAs solar cells

As part of the space qualification effort for blue-red reflecting coverslides designed for use with GaAs solar cells, the first long-term (3000 hours) UV testing of unirradiated and 1 MeV electron-irradiated GaAs solar cells, with 4 types of multilayer-coated coverslides to reduce operating temperature, has produced some unexpected results. Important conclusions from this study, which includes two parallel tests, are as follows: (1) All of the GaAs solar cells with multilayer-coated coverslides display UV degradation. The laboratory data, extrapolated to 10 years in orbit, point to a significant loss mechanism from a combination of absorption and a reduction in optical match in such coatings from this portion of the space environment; (2) The effects of contamination in a vacuum system, on the measured degradation in solar-cell short-circuit current during a UV test, depend upon the type of coverslide coatings present on the coverslide surfaces. This has implications for both coated coverslides and optical solar reflectors (OSR's) in space; and (3) Because of the observed trends in this test and uncertainties in the extrapolation of data for multilayer coated coverslides, the use of any multilayer-coated coverslides for extended missions (greater than 1 year) cannot be recommended without prior flight testing.

Meulenberg, Andrew↗
NASA NTRS1996

Naval Research Laboratory's programs in advanced indium phosphide solar cell development

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has been involved in the development of solar cells for space applications since the 1960s. It quickly became apparent in this work that radiation damage caused to solar cells by electrons and protons trapped by the earth's magnetic field would seriously degrade the power output of photovoltaic arrays in extended missions. Techniques were therefore developed to harden the cells by shielding them with coverglass, etc. Ultimately, however, there is a limit to such approaches, which is determined by the radiation response of the semiconductor material employed. A desire for high efficiency and radiation resistance led to the development of alternative cell technologies such as GaAs, which has since become the technology of choice for many applications. InP cells are currently the most radiation resistant, high efficiency, planar cells known. NRL first sponsored InP solar cell technology in 1986, when Arizona State University was contracted to grow p/n cells by liquid phase epitaxy. NRL's interest in InP cells was generated by the results presented by Yamaguchi and his co-workers in the early 1980s on the remarkable radiation resistance of cells grown by diffusion of S into Zn doped p-type InP substrates. These cells also had beginning of life (BOL) efficiencies approximately 16%(AM0). Related to the radiation resistance of the cells was the fact that radiation-induced damage could be optically annealed by sunlight. Relatively large quantities of 1 x 2 cm(exp 2) diffused junction cells were made and were used on the MUSES-A and the EXOS-D satellites. These cells were also available in the U.S. through NIMCO, and were studied at NRL and elsewhere. Workers at NASA Lewis became involved in research in InP cells about the same time as NRL.

Summers, Geoffrey P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Ion-implanted laser annealed silicon solar cells

Development of low cost solar cells fabrication technology is being sponsored by NASA JPL as part of the Low Cost Solar Array Project (LSA). In conformance to Project requirements ion implantation and laser annealing were evaluated as junction formation techniques offering low cost-high throughput potential. Properties of cells fabricated utilizing this technology were analyzed by electrical, transmission electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering and secondary ion mass spectrometry techniques. Tests indicated the laser annealed substrates to be damage free and electrically active. Similar analysis of ion implanted furnace annealed substrates revealed the presence of residual defects in the form of dislocation lines and loops with substantial impurity redistribution evident for some anneal temperature/time regimes. Fabricated laser annealed cells exhibited improved spectral response and conversion efficiency in comparison to furnace annealed cells. An economic projection for LSA indicates a potential for considerable savings from laser annealing technology.

Katzeff, J. S.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Simulation of double buffer layer on CIGS solar cell with SCAPS software

In a CIGS thin film solar cell, the buffer layer is interposed between the absorber layer and the window layer, which plays an important role in interface electricity. CdS is often used as a buffer layer in CIGS cells. Beside the toxicity of Cd, the main drawback of CdS is its relatively narrow band gap (2.4 eV), which can lead to the current loss due to parasitic absorption. In order to reduce the use of CdS, we try other buffer layers instead of CdS and optimize buffer layer structure. Numerical simulation has been used to explore the effect of different buffer layer materials (CdS and ZnSe) on the performance of CuInGaSe{sub 2} solar cells with SCAPS-1D software. The main photovoltaic parameters of the analog device: open circuit voltage, short circuit current density, fill factor and conversion efficiency (η) were compared and analyzed. The results show that different buffer materials and thickness have great influence on the performance of the cell. In this simulation, CdS buffer layer was replaced by ZnSe material, which has a wider band gap. However, the efficiency of this kind of cell is lower than that of CIGS device with CdS buffer layer because of the bad energy band alignment. In order to improve the short-wave absorption and the efficiency of CIGS cell, we simulated a novel CdS/ZnSe double buffer layer structure. The efficiency of the optimized cell with double buffer layer increases from 18.47% (conventional cell with the same CdS buffer layer thickness) to 19.01%.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗