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Article
Metamorphic GaAsP Buffers for Growth of Wide-Bandgap InGaP Solar Cells
Journal of Applied Physics (2011)
  • J. Simon, Yale University
  • S. Tomasulo, Yale University
  • P. J. Simmonds, Yale University
  • M. Romero
  • M. L. Lee, Yale University
Abstract

GaAsxP1−x graded buffers were grown via solid source molecular beam epitaxy(MBE) to enable the fabrication of wide-bandgap InyGa1−yP solar cells. Tensile-strained GaAsxP1−x buffers grown on GaAs using unoptimized conditions exhibited asymmetric strain relaxation along with formation of faceted trenches, 100–300 nm deep, running parallel to the [011] direction. We engineered a 6 μm thick grading structure to minimize the faceted trench density and achieve symmetric strain relaxation while maintaining a threading dislocation density of ≤106 cm−2. In comparison, compressively-strained graded GaAsxP1−x buffers on GaP showed nearly-complete strain relaxation of the top layers and no evidence of trenches but possessed threading dislocation densities that were one order of magnitude higher. We subsequently grew and fabricated wide-bandgap InyGa1−yP solar cells on our GaAsxP1−x buffers. Transmission electron microscopy measurements gave no indication of CuPt ordering. We obtained open circuit voltage as high as 1.42 V for In0.39Ga0.61P with a bandgap of 2.0 eV. Our results indicate MBE-grown InyGa1−yP is a promising material for the top junction of a future multijunction solar cell.

Keywords
  • III-V semiconductors,
  • solar cells,
  • band gap,
  • thin films,
  • stress relaxation
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 1, 2011
Publisher Statement
This document was originally published by AIP Publishing in Applied Physics Letters. Copyright restrictions may apply. doi: 10.1063/1.3525599
Citation Information
J. Simon, S. Tomasulo, P. J. Simmonds, M. Romero, et al.. "Metamorphic GaAsP Buffers for Growth of Wide-Bandgap InGaP Solar Cells" Journal of Applied Physics Vol. 109 Iss. 1 (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul_simmonds/23/