Space Photovoltaic Solar Cells

Competitive advantage

• Semiconductor material and processes for solar cells with higher efficiency, lower weight and greater radiation tolerance
• Extensive knowledge of multi-junction solar cells and computer simulation capabilities, coupled with collaborations with space cell manufacturers, enables rapid prototyping of devices
• Patented technology for achieving ultra-radiation hard solar cells using interstitial light trapping

Impact

• Reduced weight and hence payload launch costs
• Radiation hardened solar cells for longer missions and/or resilience in high radiation orbits
• Enabling high altitude persistent UAVs

Successful applications

• Demonstrated the use of metal nanoparticles in space solar cells in collaboration, Azur Space GmbH
• Demonstrated the feasibility for achieving radiation hard space cells, Azur Space GmbH and European Space Agency
• Demonstrated the first triple junction solar cell using silicon–germanium–tin alloys, IQE PLC
• Developing ultra-radiation hard solar cells, US Naval Research Laboratory

Capabilities and facilities

• State-of-the-art labs for research in multijunction solar cell fabrication and characterisation
• Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF)—an on-campus R&D pilot line for silicon wafer solar cells

Our partners

• IQE PLC, UK.
• Naval Research Laboratory, USA