High Efficiency Dilute Nitrides Solar Cells for Space Applications

Dilute nitride semiconductors have promise for next generation multi-junction solar cells (MJSC). This potential lays in the fact that this alloy can be lattice matched to GaAs and tuned to the important 1 eV absorption window. Despite this potential, several serious materials issues remain unresolved. These issues center on the low solubility of nitrogen in the system, and the formation of larger nitrogen related defect centers. Recently we have shown that deleterious nitrogen-nitrogen clusters and donor impurities localized to isoelectronic centers can be selectively passivated using a UV-activated hydrogenation process, significantly improving the solar cell performance. Here it is proposed to investigate the potential of leveraging these important results to develop next generation MJSCs incorporating these materials. High performance solar cells are attractive for space applications since they offer the potential for high power generation at lower payloads. These PV systems are also excellent candidates for CubeSat applications in which high power, light, low payload systems are desirable. It is proposed to investigate the potential and suitability of hydrogenated GaInNAs cells for flexible MJSCs via a rigorous investigation of the nature and stability of the H-N bond when subjected to thermal cycling and accelerated lifetime measurements, and under high-energy irradiation.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.