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Presentation
Growth of Metamorphic InGaP for Wide-Bandgap Photovoltaic Junction by MBE
2010 MRS Spring Meeting (2010)
  • John Simon, Yale University
  • Stephanie Tomasulo, Yale University
  • Paul J. Simmonds, Yale University
  • Manuel J. Romero
  • Minjoo Larry Lee, Yale University
Abstract

Metamorphic triple-junction solar cells can currently attain efficiencies as high as 41.1%. Using additional junctions could lead to efficiencies above 50%, but require the development of a wide bandgap (2.0-2.2eV) material to act as the top layer. In this work we demonstrate wide bandgap InyGa1-yP grown on GaAsxP1-x via solid source molecular beam epitaxy. Unoptimized tensile GaAsxP1-x buffers grown on GaAs exhibit asymmetric strain relaxation, along with formation of faceted trenches 100-300 nm deep in the [01-1] direction. Smaller grading step size and higher substrate temperatures minimizes the facet trench density and results in symmetric strain relaxation. In comparison, compressively-strained graded GaAsxP1-x buffers on GaP show nearly-complete strain relaxation of the top layers and no evidence of trenches. We subsequently grew InyGa1-yP layers on the GaAsxP1-x buffers. Photoluminescence and transmission electron microscopy measurements show no indication of phase separation or CuPt ordering. Taken in combination with the low threading dislocation densities obtained, MBE-grown InyGa1-yP layers are promising candidates for future use as the top junction of a multi-junction solar cell.

Keywords
  • molecular beam epitaxy (MBE),
  • III-V,
  • photovoltaic
Disciplines
Publication Date
April 5, 2010
Comments
This document was originally published by the Materials Research Society in Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings. Copyright restrictions may apply. doi: 10.1557/PROC-1268-EE06-04
Citation Information
John Simon, Stephanie Tomasulo, Paul J. Simmonds, Manuel J. Romero, et al.. "Growth of Metamorphic InGaP for Wide-Bandgap Photovoltaic Junction by MBE" 2010 MRS Spring Meeting (2010)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul_simmonds/57/