High-performance, lattice-mismatched InGaAs/InP monolithic interconnected modules (MIMs)

High performance, lattice-mismatched p/n InGaAs/InP monolithic interconnected module (MIM) structures were developed for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications. A MIM device consists of several individual InGaAs photovoltaic (PV) cells series-connected on a single semi-insulating (S.I.) InP substrate. Both interdigitated and conventional (i.e., non-interdigitated) MIMs were fabricated. The energy bandgap (Eg) for these devices was 0.60 eV. A compositionally step-graded InPAs buffer was used to accommodate a lattice mismatch of 1.1% between the active InGaAs cell structure and the InP substrate. $1×1-cm,$ 15-cell, 0.60-eV MIMs demonstrated an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 5.2 V (347 mV per cell) and a fill factor of 68.6% at a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 2.0 A/cm², under flashlamp testing. The reverse saturation current density (Jo) was $1.6×10−6 A/cm2.$ Jo values as low as $4.1×10−7 A/cm2$ were also observed with a conventional planar cell geometry.