Accession Number:

ADD010934

Title:

Back Barrier Heteroface AlGaAs Solar Cell.

Descriptive Note:

Patent,

Corporate Author:

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Rahilly,W. P.

Report Date:

1984-01-24

Pagination or Media Count:

4.0

Abstract:

This invention relates generally to semiconductor devices having material layers composed of AlGaAs of varying AlAs compositions and is related to manufacturing processes and particularly to photovoltaic cells and the fabrication thereof. This invention is an improvement to the AlGaAsGaAs heteroface solar cell in that the photovoltaically action region is composed of AlGaAs of low Al composition approximately 2 to 10 and is bounded by the usual high Al content approximately 90 or more AlGaAs window on the cell top and a novel high Al content more than about 90 back barrier. The back barrier serves to significantly reduce minority carrier losses in the rear region by blocking the carriers from reaching the cell substrate region. The result is that both light generated current and cell voltage performance will be improved.

Descriptors:

• *Patents
• *Solar cells
• *Semiconductor devices
• *Gallium arsenides
• *Aluminum
• Electrolytic cells
• Charge carriers
• Losses
• Photovoltaic effect
• Barriers
• Substrates
• Manufacturing
• Fabrication

Subject Categories:

• Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Electric Power Production and Distribution
• Operations Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE