Photogenic Group

Photovoltaics and Nanostructures Development of quantum-scale semiconductor heterostructures and exploratory materials for novel high efficiency photovoltaic devices

The rapid, world-wide proliferation of satellite-based communication systems is driving an unprecedented surge of interest in space solar cells. The Photovoltaic and Nanostructure project provides an interdisciplinary, vertically-integrated outlook on R&D problems in photovoltaic materials and devices. Our project investigates a wide range of fundamental and applied materials problems to improve cell efficiency, increase power/weight ratios, and decrease the cost of high efficiency solar cells. These investigations span the spectrum from exploring sophisticated new III-V quantum-scale semiconductor materials and solar designs with projected efficiencies in excess of 40%, to investigating new photovoltaic energy concepts that will enhance planetary and deep space exploration.

Current tasks within the group include:

Chemical Beam Epitaxy of Quantum-Scale Heterostructures and Devices for Advanced Photovoltaics:

High Efficiency Multi-Bandgap/Multiquantum Well Photovoltaics for Satellites Operating in Low and Geostationary Earth Orbit:

Radiation Hard InP Multiquantum Well Solar Cells for Medium Earth Orbit Applications:

Thermophotovoltaic Materials and Converters for Deep Space Exploration:

Solar Cells Using Extraterrestrial Planetary Resources:

Major Research activities include the design and modeling of photovoltaic devices, growing crystalline semiconductors by chemical beam epitaxy (CBE/MOMBE), characterizing critical material properties that affect cell efficiency and reliability, developing cell processing and fabrication techniques, and measuring the photovoltaic response of completed solar cells. Project capabilities include growing quantum-scale heterostructures and devices by CBE/MOMBE; complete device processing facilities; and structural and electrical characterization tools such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy C-V profiling, and photoluminescence. Device photovoltaic characterization facilities include dark-illuminated I-V (AM0 solar simulator) and spectral response analysis.

Patents
Tandem Solar Cell With Improved Tunnel Junction
Alexandre Freundlich
Mauro F. Vilela
Abdelhak Bensaoula
Alex Ignatiev

Tandem Solar Cell With Indium Phosphide Tunnel Junction
Mauro F. Vilela
Abdelhak Bensaoula
Alexandre Freundlich
Philippe Renaud
Nasr-Eddine Medelci

Strained Quantum Well Photovoltaic Energy Converter
Alexandre Freundlich
Philippe Renaud
Mauro F. Vilela
Abdelhak Bensaoula

Multi-Quantum Well Tandem Solar Cell Patent Front Page
Alexandre Freundlich

Quantum Well ThermoPhotovoltaic Energy Converter
Alexandre Freundlich

For more information contact
Project Leader:
Professor Alex Freundlich at alexf@orbit.svec.uh.edu