Design and Optimization of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide Solar Cells for Lightweight Battlefield Application

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA607539 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The design and optimization of higher efficiency Copper Indium Gallium Selenide CIGS solar cells are investigated in this thesis. Optimizing the thickness layers of a cell for various band gaps was conducted in order to design a cell that exceeds the current industry efficiency record of 20.8. Silvaco provides a modeling program called ATLAS that is specifically designed to model semiconductor devices. ATLAS was used to model a CIGS cell that is currently being produced to verify the validity of the model. Various thicknesses were then swept to determine the optimum thickness for a given band gap. Solar spectrum intensity varies by location around the Earth. Optimizing CIGS cells for various band gaps yields higher overall power output when dealing with drastic climate and location variations. Cells for five band gaps ranging from 1.14 eV to 1.69 eV were optimized in this thesis. The highest achieved efficiency was for a band gap of 1.69 eV with an overall theoretical efficiency of 22.4.

Author(s):
Columbus, Douglas A.
Author Organization(s):
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
Descriptive Note:
Master's thesis
Pagination:
0103

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
NPS
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_1.2.6_Concepts; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_JCA_4.1.2_Sustain the Force
Modernization Areas:
Microelectronics
Communities of Interest:
Energy and Power Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*COPPER, *GALLIUM, *INDIUM, *LIGHTWEIGHT, *SELENIDES, *SOLAR CELLS, BAND GAPS, BATTLEFIELDS, CLIMATE, EARTH(PLANET), SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES, SOLAR RADIATION, SOLAR SPECTRUM
Field(s)/Group(s):
Inorganic Chemistry, Electric Power Production and Distribution, Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods
Keyword(s):
CIGS(COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SELENIDE), EFFICIENCY, OPTIMIZATION, THICKNESS, BAND GAP, SILVACO, ATLAS
Report Date:
2014 Jun 01
Creation Date:
2014 Oct 01