Lightweight and low-cost thin film photovoltaics for large area extra-terrestrial applications

Daniel Ash Lamb; Stuart J.C. Irvine; Andrew James Clayton; Vincent Barrioz; Giray Kartopu; Mark A. Baker; C.I. Underwood; Rossana Grilli; Rick Kimber; James Hall

Lightweight and low-cost thin film photovoltaics for large area extra-terrestrial applications

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Author(s): Daniel Ash Lamb ¹ ; Stuart J.C. Irvine ¹ ; Andrew James Clayton ¹ ; Vincent Barrioz ¹ ; Giray Kartopu ¹ ; Mark A. Baker ² ; C.I. Underwood ² ; Rossana Grilli ² ; Rick Kimber ³ ; James Hall ⁴
- Affiliations: 1: Centre for Solar Energy Research, Glyndŵr University, St Asaph, LL17 0JD, UK;
  2: Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK;
  3: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, 20 Stephenson Road, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, GU2 7YE, UK;
  4: Qioptiq Space Technology Ltd, Glascoed Road, St Asaph, Denbighshire, LL17 0LL, UK
Source: Volume 9, Issue 5, July 2015, p. 420 – 423
DOI: 10.1049/iet-rpg.2014.0368 , Print ISSN 1752-1416, Online ISSN 1752-1424

Received 04/11/2014, Accepted 27/01/2015, Revised 07/01/2015, Published 29/04/2015

This work describes progress towards achieving a flexible, high specific power and low-cost photovoltaic (PV) for emerging large area space applications. The study reports the highest conversion efficiency of 15.3% AM1.5G for a CdTe device on ultra-thin cerium-doped cover glass, the standard protective material for extra-terrestrial PVs. The deposition technique used for all of the semiconductor layers comprising the device structure was atmospheric pressure metal organic chemical vapour deposition. Improvements to the device structure over those previously reported led to a V _oc of 788 mV and a relatively low series resistance of 3.3 Ω·cm². These were largely achieved by the introduction of a post-growth air anneal and a refinement of the front contact bus bars, respectively. The aluminium-doped zinc oxide transparent conductive oxide, being the first layer applied to the cover glass, was subject to thermal shock cycling +80 to (−) 196°C to test the adhesion under the extreme conditions likely to be encountered for space application. Scotch Tape testing and sheet resistance measurements before and after the thermal shock testing demonstrated that the aluminium-doped zinc oxide remained well adhered to the cover glass and its electrical performance unchanged.

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Lightweight and low-cost thin film photovoltaics for large area extra-terrestrial applications

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