University of Cambridge
Ultra-thin III-V photovoltaic technology for space applications
Abstract
dc:description.abstractPhotovoltaic (PV) technology is a mainstream renewable energy source for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications. To achieve higher power conversion efficiency and resilience to space radiation, III-V semiconductor material-based PV technology is the leading choice for power generation in space applications. However, III-V solar cells are still limited by high material and manufacturing costs, which are further pronounced by the recent substantial reduction in launch costs. Research attention on III-V PV technology has focused on enhancing the specific power measured in watts per kilogram, and challenging the conventional reliance on thick absorbing layers and support of rigid epitaxial growth substrates. Ultra-thin III-V solar cells, enhanced with light management strategies, are well-suited to meet the demanding performance criteria of next-generation space PV systems, including high efficiency, reduced material usage for lower manufacturing cost and launch mass, and mechanical flexibility for roll-out deployment and integration into non-planar configurations. This work specifically investigated the fabrication methods of ultra-thin III-V PV technology for future scaling-up manufacturing in space applications. Integrating light management strategies requires processing solar cells off their growth substrates and introduces fabrication challenges. Conventional adhesive bonding of multi-junction III-V solar cells to cover glass and mechanical support does not effectively apply to the ultra-thin schemes due to the intrinsic mismatch of coefficients of thermal expansion, and susceptibility to fabrication and environmental stressors. The adhesive-free bonding method developed in this work for transferring ultra-thin solar cells to cover glass via anodic bonding does not degrade their power generation performance and allows them to withstand the ground-based electron irradiation tests up to energy at 1 MeV with a fluence of 3.6 x 10^16 cm^-2, equivalent to > 15 years in the geostationary orbit. In the proposed glass-as-superstrate embodiment, the ultra-thin multi-junction III-V solar cells could eliminate the adhesives and growth substrate supports for significant cost reduction, and maintain high radiation resilience and power conversion efficiency.
Degree
thesis:*- Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
- Doctoral
- Grantor dc:publisher.institution
- University of Cambridge
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2025
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Li, Jiayi
- Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Hirst, Louise
Subjects
dc:subject × 5Rights
dc:rightsIdentifiers
dc:identifier.*- Author Identifier
- 0000-0002-3683-1135
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/396714