Four junction inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cell with a single metamorphic layer

US8969712B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SOLAERO TECHNOLOGIES CORP. · US

Inventors

• Fred Newman · Albuquerque, US
• Benjamin Cho · Albuquerque, US
• Mark A. Stan · Albuquerque, US
• Paul R. Sharps · Albuquerque, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 3, 2015
• Expiry date: May 15, 2032

Classification

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

Abstract

A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap; a graded interlayer adjacent to the second solar subcell, the graded interlayer having a third band gap greater than the second band gap; and a third solar subcell adjacent to the graded interlayer, the third subcell having 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 lower fourth solar subcell is provided adjacent to the third subcell and lattice matched thereto, the lower fourth subcell having a fifth band gap smaller than the fourth band gap.