High-Efficiency Rad-Hard Ultra-Thin Si Photovoltaic Cell Technology for Space, Phase I

Advanced photovoltaic (PV) power generation and enabling power system technologies are needed for improvements in capability and reliability of PV power generation for space exploration missions. PV technologies must enable or enhance the ability to provide low-cost, low mass and higher efficiency for power systems with particular emphasis on high power arrays to support solar electric propulsion missions. The potential low costs and high manufacturability of nanostructured UT Si solar cells will further remove the solar array as a cost driver, while radiation tolerant photovoltaics will lead to more robust space systems. The new modeling and simulation tools for UT Si PV cell technologies, employing new physical effects will help NASA to: a) assess technologies, devices, and materials for new efficient photovoltaic solar cells; b) better evaluate the performance and radiation response at early design stage; c) set requirements for hardening and testing; reduce the amount of testing cost and time. Higher efficiency solar cells are needed to reduce solar array mass, volume, and cost for NASA space missions. In addition, low costs of manufacturing could allow these new solar cells to compete for terrestrial applications such as distributed power or grid power replacement/backup. Potential commercial applications will occur through the development of high performance (high W/kg, high W/m2, and low $/W) cells that could be used for terrestrial and space applications for both the military and commercial sectors. All satellites, military and commercial, suffer from solar cell degradation due to the effects of radiation. The higher efficiency of the novel rad-hard UT Si solar cells will reduce the weight of the solar array, maintaining the power generation requirements of the spacecraft or satellite system More »