Solar cell design for avoiding LILT degradation

Growing concerns about radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) performance potential, cost, safety, and availability have renewed interest in utilizing photovoltaic energy conversion for future JPL interplanetary missions such as the Mariner Mark II set. Although lightweight solar array technology has advanced to the point where it would appear to provide an alternative power source, anomalous silicon cell curve shape degradation at conditions of low intensity and low temperature (LILT) severely restricts photovoltaic applications for missions beyond 3 AU solar distance. In order to extend photovoltaic applications to distances of 5 AU, ways to minimize the deleterious impact of LILT cell degradation were investigated. These investigations have ranged from consideration of individual cell selection for LILT behavior to the examination of methods for reducing or eliminating cell LILT degradation by modifying the cell processing. Use of a partial oxide barrier between the cell n+ contacts and the silicon has been shown to reduce significantly both the occurrence and magnitude of the LILT degradation.