A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein at least one of the solar cells has a graded band gap throughout its thickness.

The present disclosure relates to a method that includes depositing a spalling layer onto a surface that includes a substrate, depositing a device comprising a III-V material onto the spalling layer, resulting in the forming of a stack, and dividing the stack substantially at a plane positioned within the spalling layer to form a first portion that includes the substrate and a second portion that includes the PV device, where the spalling layer includes a first layer configured to provide a compressive stress and a second layer configured to provide a tensile stress, the first layer and the second layer form an interface, the dividing occurs as result of the interface, and the compressive stress and the tensile stress are strain-balanced so that a total strain within the spalling layer is approximately zero.

The present disclosure relates to a method that includes depositing a spalling layer onto a surface that includes a substrate, depositing a device comprising a III-V material onto the spalling layer, resulting in the forming of a stack, and dividing the stack substantially at a plane positioned within the spalling layer to form a first portion that includes the substrate and a second portion that includes the PV device, where the spalling layer includes a first layer configured to provide a compressive stress and a second layer configured to provide a tensile stress, the first layer and the second layer form an interface, the dividing occurs as result of the interface, and the compressive stress and the tensile stress are strain-balanced so that a total strain within the spalling layer is approximately zero.

A multijunction solar cell including a metamorphic layer, and particularly the design and specification of the composition, lattice constant, and band gaps of various layers above the metamorphic layer in order to achieve reduction in “bowing” of the semiconductor wafer caused by the lattice mismatch of layers associated with the metamorphic layer.

A multijunction solar cell including a metamorphic layer, and particularly the design and specification of the composition, lattice constant, and band gaps of various layers above the metamorphic layer in order to achieve reduction in “bowing” of the semiconductor wafer caused by the lattice mismatch of layers associated with the metamorphic layer.

Refractive optical element designs are provided for high geometric optical efficiency over a wide range of incident angles. To minimize Fresnel reflection losses, the refractive optical element designs employ multiple encapsulant materials, differing in refractive index. Concentrator photovoltaic subassemblies are formed by embedding a high efficiency photovoltaic device within the refractive optical element, along with appropriate electrical contacts and heat sinks. Increased solar electric power output is obtained by employing a single-junction III-V material structure with light-trapping structures.

Refractive optical element designs are provided for high geometric optical efficiency over a wide range of incident angles. To minimize Fresnel reflection losses, the refractive optical element designs employ multiple encapsulant materials, differing in refractive index. Concentrator photovoltaic subassemblies are formed by embedding a high efficiency photovoltaic device within the refractive optical element, along with appropriate electrical contacts and heat sinks. Increased solar electric power output is obtained by employing a single-junction III-V material structure with light-trapping structures.

A method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell panel by providing a plurality of multijunction solar cells; dispensing out uncured silicone coating on the solar cells using an automated process with visual recognition, and curing the silicone coating on the solar cell to complete the Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC) assembly.

A method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell panel by providing a plurality of multijunction solar cells; dispensing out uncured silicone coating on the solar cells using an automated process with visual recognition, and curing the silicone coating on the solar cell to complete the Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC) assembly.

A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having an emitter and base layers forming a photoelectric junction; a second solar subcell disposed under and adjacent to the upper first solar subcell, and having an emitter and base layers forming a photoelectric junction; and a third solar subcell disposed under and adjacent to the second solar subcell and having an emitter and base layers forming a photoelectric junction; wherein at least one of the base and emitter layers of at least a particular solar subcell from among the upper first solar subcell, the second solar subcell, and the third solar subcell has a graded band gap throughout at least a portion of thickness of its active layer adjacent to the photoelectric junction and being in a range of 20 to 300 MeV greater than a band gap in the active layer away from the photoelectric junction.