Inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells including metamorphic layers

US10381505B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SOLAERO TECHNOLOGIES CORP. · US

Inventors

• Pravin Patel · Albuquerque, US
• Arthur Cornfeld · Sandia Park, US
• John Spann · Albuquerque, US
• Mark A. Stan · Albuquerque, US
• Benjamin Cho · Albuquerque, US
• Paul R. Sharps · Albuquerque, US
• Daniel Aiken · Edgewood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 2016
• Grant date: Aug 13, 2019
• Expiry date: Jul 19, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50

Abstract

A multijunction solar cell includes an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap, a second solar subcell having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap, and a first graded interlayer composed of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs adjacent to the second solar subcell. The first graded interlayer has a third band gap greater than the second band gap subject to the constraints of having the in-plane lattice parameter greater or equal to that of the second subcell and less than or equal to that of the third subcell, wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1, and x and y are selected such that the band gap of the first graded interlayer remains constant throughout its thickness at 1.5 eV. A third solar subcell is adjacent to the first graded interlayer and has a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell. A second graded interlayer composed of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs is adjacent to the third solar subcell and has a fifth band gap greater than the fourth band gap subject to the constraints of having the in-plane lattice parameter greater or equal to that of the third subcell and less than or equal to that of the bottom…