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Article
Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Metamorphic InyGa1−yP Solar Cells on Mixed Anion GaAsxP1−x/GaAs Graded Buffers
Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B (2011)
  • Stephanie Tomasulo, Yale University
  • John Simon, Yale University
  • Paul J. Simmonds, Yale University
  • Jonathan Biagiotti, Yale University
  • Minjoo L. Lee, Yale University
Abstract

The authors have grown metamorphic InyGa1−yP on optimized GaAsxP1−x/GaAs graded buffers via solid source molecular beam epitaxy(MBE) for multijunction solar cell applications. In this work, the authors show that a previously developed kinetic growth model can be used to predict the composition of mixed anion GaAsxP1−x alloys on GaAs as a function of substrate temperature and group-V flux. The advantages of using a high growth temperature of 700 °C are then described, including the minimized dependence of composition on small temperature variations, a linear dependence of film composition on incident group-V flux ratio, and the ability to attain low threading dislocation densities of ≤106 cm−2. The authors then discuss the effect of faceted trenches, a morphological defect specific to tensile strain relaxation, on minority carrier properties, as well as strategies to eliminate them. Growth temperature effects, phase separation, and difficulties encountered in n-type doping of InAlP:Si are then described in the context of InyGa1−yP solar cellgrowth. The MBEgrowth techniques presented here have enabled the demonstration of 2.00 eV band gap metamorphic In0.39Ga0.61P solar cells, exhibiting open-circuit voltages as high as 1.42 V. These results indicate that metamorphic InyGa1−yP is a promising material for future multijunction solar cells.

Keywords
  • solar cells,
  • III-V semiconductors,
  • molecular beam epitaxy,
  • doping,
  • thin film growth
Disciplines
Publication Date
May, 2011
Publisher Statement
This document was originally published by AIP Publishing in the Journal of Vacuum & Science Technology B. Copyright restrictions may apply. doi: 10.1116/1.3559119
Citation Information
Stephanie Tomasulo, John Simon, Paul J. Simmonds, Jonathan Biagiotti, et al.. "Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Metamorphic InyGa1−yP Solar Cells on Mixed Anion GaAsxP1−x/GaAs Graded Buffers" Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B Vol. 29 Iss. 3 (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul_simmonds/20/