24% Single-Junction GaAs Solar Cell Grown Directly on Growth-Planarized Facets Using Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy: Article No. 2302035

Anna Braun, Jacob Boyer, Kevin Schulte, William McMahon, John Simon, Allison Perna, Corinne Packard, Aaron Ptak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus Citations

Abstract

A 24%-efficient single-junction GaAs solar cell grown directly on a faceted, spalled (100) GaAs substrate after in situ planarization growth by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) is achieved. Controlled spalling, a promising low-cost substrate reuse technique, produces large facets in (100)-oriented GaAs substrates due to the orientation of the fracture planes used for lift-off. Planarization by HVPE offers a path toward direct use of these spalled substrates without costly polishing steps. Here, the growth rate anisotropy enabling planarization arising from diffusion and differences in the adsorption of growth species on {n11}B-type facets relative to (100) is determined. Consecutive planarization and device growth that results in a solar cell with a minimal performance difference relative to a control cell grown on an epitaxy-ready substrate are demonstrated. These results show that controlled spalling coupled with HVPE planarization is a viable pathway for lowering the cost of III-V photovoltaics.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages9
JournalAdvanced Energy Materials
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5900-86300

Keywords

  • controlled spalling
  • GaAs
  • HVPE
  • hydride vapor phase epitaxy
  • III-V solar cell
  • photovoltaic
  • planarization
  • PV
  • substrate reuse

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