High-efficiency (24.6% AM 0) LPE grown AlGaAs/GaAs concentrator solar cells and modules

Due to the development of the low-temperature (T=450-650/spl deg/C) LPE and low-temperature Mg-diffusion processes, AlGaAs-GaAs heterostructure solar cells (SCs) with ultra-thin wide-gap "window" layers have been fabricated. A conversion efficiency as high as 24.6% under AM 0 conditions at the concentration ratio of 105 Suns has been measured on SC samples with a one-layer antireflection coating and a prismatic cover. A conceptual design and experimental results on space power application concentrator modules for the developed SCs are also presented. Based on reflective optics (light-weight compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs) or linear-focus parabolic troughs) these modules have to provide the specific parameters of 240 Watt/spl middot/m/sup -2/ and 3 kg/spl middot/m/sup -2/.