Neutron Irradiation Test of Experimental Solar Cells.
Abstract
Ninety-seven silicon solar cells of 3 different types were exposed to 5 different neutron fluence levels between 1.72 x 10 to the 11th power and 2.47 x 10 to the 13th power neutrons/sq cm (1 Mev equivalent) in the White Sands Missile Range East Burst Reactor and then allowed to anneal at temperatures of 25, 60 and 80 C for approximately 1000 hours. Pre and post-exposure measurements were taken to determine the amount of degradation due to neutron exposure and the rate and extent to which the damage annealed. The three types of specimens included the experimental, super-violet, silicon cells recently developed by the Comsat Laboratories, state-of-the-art lithium-doped silicon cells, and experimental barrier-layer, lithium-doped silicon cells. This report documents the test procedures and results of the experiment. The Comsat cells had the highest pre-exposure efficiencies but after exposure the lithium-doped cells annealed to significantly higher efficiencies. The barrier-layer cells had low initial efficiencies and were unstable. Extensive data taken on the cells is on file and may be made available for further studies and analyses. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0913278
Entities
People
- Albert E. Wallis
- Neil C. Griffen
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory