Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including a substrate and at least one solar subcell having an emitter layer, a base layer, and a window layer adjacent to the emitter layer composed of a semiconductor window material, wherein the window material has a graded composition such that the material at the interface between the top surface of the emitter layer of the at least one solar subcell and the bottom surface of the window layer has a compression as measured by a delta in the Bragg angle from the substrate in a range of 0 to 500 arcseconds in compression, and material at the top surface of the window layer has a tension as measured by a delta in the Bragg angle from the substrate in a range of 50 to 700 arcseconds in tension, wherein the delta in the Bragg angle is obtained from a rocking curve from a triple axis coupled scan of ? and 2? (omega-2theta) using 1.5406 ? radiation.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell comprising at least a first subcell and a second subcell, a first alpha layer disposed over said first solar subcell grown using a surfactant and dopant including selenium or tellurium, the first alpha layer configured to prevent threading dislocations from propagating; a metamorphic grading interlayer disposed over and directly adjacent to said first alpha layer; a second alpha layer grown using a surfactant and dopant including selenium or tellurium over and disposed directly adjacent to said grading interlayer to prevent threading dislocations from propagating; wherein the second solar subcell is disposed over said grading interlayer such that the second solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the first solar subcell.

Abstract: A method of forming a multijunction solar cell comprising at least a first subcell and a second subcell, the method including forming a first alpha layer over said first solar subcell using a surfactant and dopant including selenium or tellurium, the first alpha layer configured to prevent threading dislocations from propagating; forming a metamorphic grading interlayer over and directly adjacent to said first alpha layer; forming a second alpha layer using a surfactant and dopant including selenium or tellurium over and directly adjacent to said grading interlayer to prevent threading dislocations from propagating; and forming the second solar subcell over said grading interlayer such that the second solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the first solar subcell.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a metallic interconnect member for connecting a first solar cell to a second solar cell. The interconnect member includes one or more serpentine paths having substantially perpendicular loops. The interconnect member may include two connection pads for connecting to the first solar cell. A further connection pad for connecting to a bypass diode may be included. The disclosure further relates to a string of solar cells including a first and a second solar cell connected by an interconnect member.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a metallic interconnect member for connecting a first solar cell to a second solar cell. The interconnect member includes one or more serpentine paths having substantially perpendicular loops. The interconnect member may include two connection pads for connecting to the first solar cell. A further connection pad for connecting to a bypass diode may be included. The disclosure further relates to a string of solar cells including a first and a second solar cell connected by an interconnect member.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a metallic interconnect member for connecting a first solar cell to a second solar cell. The interconnect member includes one or more serpentine paths having substantially perpendicular loops. The interconnect member may include two connection pads for connecting to the first solar cell. A further connection pad for connecting to a bypass diode may be included. The disclosure further relates to a string of solar cells including a first and a second solar cell connected by an interconnect member.

Abstract: The disclosure describes multi-junction solar cell structures that include two or more graded interlayers.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap, a second solar subcell having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap, and a first graded interlayer composed of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs adjacent to the second solar subcell. The first graded interlayer has a third band gap greater than the second band gap subject to the constraints of having the in-plane lattice parameter greater or equal to that of the second subcell and less than or equal to that of the third subcell, wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1, and x and y are selected such that the band gap of the first graded interlayer remains constant throughout its thickness at 1.5 eV. A third solar subcell is adjacent to the first graded interlayer and has a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an upper first solar subcell, a second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell, a third solar subcell adjacent to the second solar subcell, and a graded interlayer adjacent to the third solar subcell. The graded interlayer has a band gap that is greater than the band gap of the third solar subcell and is composed of a compositionally step-graded series of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs layers with monotonically changing lattice constant, with x and y having respective values such that the band gap of the graded interlayer remains constant throughout its thickness, and wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1. A fourth solar subcell is adjacent to the graded interlayer and is lattice mismatched with respect to the third solar subcell. The graded interlayer provides a transition in lattice constant from the third solar subcell to the fourth solar subcell. A lower fifth solar subcell is adjacent to the fourth solar subcell.

Abstract: A flexible solar array for a spacecraft or aviation craft including a flexible backing substrate with conductive trace(s) formed thereon; solar cell subassemblies disposed over the flexible backing substrate, each of the solar cell subassemblies at least including a solar cell; and an adhesive layer interposed between the solar cell subassemblies and the flexible backing substrate, with the solar cell attached to the flexible backing substrate. The adhesive layer includes openings for exposing the corresponding conductive traces so that the exposed metal traces are adaptable to interconnect the solar cells of the respective adjacent solar cell subassemblies through the openings.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multijunction solar cell that includes: a first sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a first set of one or more solar subcells; a graded interlayer adjacent to said first sequence of layers; a second sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a second set of one or more solar subcells; and a high band gap contact layer adjacent said second sequence of layers, wherein the high band gap contact layer is composed of p++ type InGaAlAs or InGaAs.

Abstract: A flexible solar array and a method for fabricating the same is provided. The flexible solar array may include a flexible backing substrate with conductive trace(s) formed thereon; solar cell subassemblies over the flexible backing substrate, each of the solar cell subassemblies at least including a solar cell; and an adhesive layer interposed between the solar cell subassemblies and the flexible backing substrate, and attaching the solar cells to the flexible backing substrate. The adhesive layer includes openings for exposing the corresponding conductive traces so that the exposed metal traces are adaptable to interconnect the solar cells of the respective adjacent solar cell subassemblies through the openings.

Abstract: The disclosure describes multi-junction solar cell structures that include two or more graded interlayers.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell for a space radiation environment, the multijunction solar cell having a plurality of solar sub-cells arranged in order of decreasing band gap including: a first solar subcell composed of InGaP and having a first band gap, the first solar subcell having a first short circuit current associated therewith; a second solar subcell composed of GaAs and having a second band gap which is less than the first band gap, the second solar subcell having a second short circuit current associated therewith; wherein in a beginning of life state the first short circuit current is less than the second short circuit current such that the AM0 conversion efficiency is sub-optimal. However, in an end of life state, the short circuit current are substantially matched, which results in an improved AM0 conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including a first solar subcell having a first band gap and a first short-circuit current; a second solar subcell disposed over the first solar subcell and having a second band gap greater than the first band gap and a second short-circuit current greater than the first short-circuit current by an amount in the range of 2% to 6%; a third solar subcell disposed over the second solar subcell and having a third band gap greater than the second band gap and a third short-circuit current less than the first short-circuit current by an amount in the range of 2% to 6%; and a fourth solar subcell disposed over the third solar subcell having a fourth band gap greater than the third band gap, and a fourth short-circuit current less than the third short-circuit current by an amount in the range of 6% to 10%, so that at an “end of life” state of the multijunction solar cell in an AM0 space environment the short-circuit current of each of the subcells are substantially identical.

Abstract: The disclosure describes multi-junction solar cell structures that include two or more graded interlayers.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap; a first graded interlayer adjacent to the second solar subcell; the first graded interlayer having a third band gap greater than the second band gap; and a third solar subcell adjacent to the first graded interlayer, the third subcell having a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell. A second graded interlayer is provided adjacent to the third solar subcell; the second graded interlayer having a fifth band gap greater than the fourth band gap; and a lower fourth solar subcell is provided adjacent to the second graded interlayer, the lower fourth subcell having a sixth band gap smaller than the fourth band gap such that the fourth subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the third subcell.

Abstract: A method of forming a multijunction solar cell comprising at least an upper subcell, a middle subcell, and a lower subcell, the method including forming a first alpha layer over said middle solar subcell using a surfactant and dopant including selenium, the first alpha layer configured to prevent threading dislocations from propagating; forming a metamorphic grading interlayer over and directly adjacent to said first alpha layer; forming a second alpha layer using a surfactant and dopant including selenium over and directly adjacent to said grading interlayer to prevent threading dislocations from propagating; and forming a lower solar subcell over said grading interlayer such that said lower solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said middle solar subcell.