1000 Sun, Compact Receiver Based on Monolithic Interconnected Modules (MIMS)

Monolithic Interconnected Modules (MIMs) are high voltage, low current devices for the use under very high light intensities. For the first time GaAs-based MIMs are now available to be tested in terrestrial concentrator systems. We report on the development of GaAs MIMs with 30.3 V open circuit voltage and a maximum efficiency of 22.0%. The MIMs are designed to operate at a concentration ratio of 1000 suns. A novel type of bypass diode is integrated into each MIM segment to protect against reverse voltages (patent pending). 24 MIM chips are assembled on a water-cooled heat sink to form a compact 10 cmtimes10 cm receiver. The first fully functional prototype is presented in this paper