Calculated performance of p(+)n InP solar cells with In(0.52)Al(0.48)As window layers

The performance of indium phosphide solar cells with lattice matched wide band-gap In(0.52)Al(0.48)As window layers was calculated using the PC-1D computer code. The conversion efficiency of p(+)n InP solar cells is improved significantly by the window layer. No improvement is seen for n(+)p structures. The improvement in InP cell efficiency was studied as a function of In(0.52)Al(0.48)As layer thickness. The use of the window layer improves both the open circuit voltage and short circuit current.For a typical In(0.52)Al(0.48)As window layer thickness of 20 nm, the cell efficiency improves in excess of 27 percent to a value of 18.74 percent.