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Concentration enhancement of current density and diffusion length in III–V ternary compound solar cells

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Abstract

Current density and output power of solar cells, respectively, made from different materials combinations:

GaAsp(:Zn)/GaAsP(:Te)/GaAs-CVD

GaAsp(:Zn)/GaAs(:Te)/GaAs-CVD

GaAlAs(:Zn)/GaAs(:Si)-LPE

Silicon,p onn (commercial grade)

have been compared at increasing light levels, i.e. solar concentrations from 1 sun to 100 suns. A strongly super-linear increase in output (current density) is found for the ternary compound cells in agreement with earlier measurements.

The faster rate of increase of the current with concentration in ternary compounds as compared to silicon can be explained by a trap-filling mechanism at higher injection levels.

A Gaussian distribution of compensated donor states can explain the superlinear current increase.

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Author notes

  1. G. A. Wolff

    Present address: National Semiconductor Corp., 95051, Santa Clara, Calif.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISSEC (International Solid State Electronics Consultants), P. O. Box 49177, 90049, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    H. F. Mataré

  2. Epidyne, Inc., 90250, Hawthorne, CA, USA

    G. A. Wolff

Authors
  1. H. F. Mataré
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  2. G. A. Wolff
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Mataré, H.F., Wolff, G.A. Concentration enhancement of current density and diffusion length in III–V ternary compound solar cells. Appl. Phys. 17, 335–342 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00886202

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00886202

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