NREL has developed an improved method for photovoltaic cells

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed an improved method for producing photovoltaic cells using III-V elements in gallium arsenide and other compounds. These materials are known for their high efficiency, but their expensive production costs mean that their use is limited to small satellite applications such as satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Scientists at NREL have now found a way to improve the production of III-V batteries. This process is called hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE).

Aaron Ptak, a senior scientist at NREL, said that HVPE is not new. Scientists have been paying attention to it since the 50s and 60s, and they are more willing to call it "a new, 50-year-old growth technology." The key to the D-HVPE process is the use of dual-chamber reactors to deposit different layers. With these reactors, they can reduce production time from one hour to about two minutes.

This team has been able to produce 25.3% efficiency GaAs batteries. Although NREL acknowledges that this process will not immediately reduce costs to commercial attractiveness other than satellite, military, and other niche applications. However, Kelsey Horowitz, a member of the technical and economic analysis group of the NREL Strategic Energy Analysis Center, predicts that with technological adjustments and economies of scale, batteries made with D-HVPE can produce $ 0.20-0.80 / W of electricity and can be used for portable / wearable solar energy. Board and other applications, because this kind of middle market can accept higher prices.

The researchers also admit that the commercialization process will be another very expensive step. Ptak said they have a very good R & D technology and designed a test-scale reactor, but they have no way to go from A to B because it will be a step that requires a lot of capital.

NREL also cooperates with Microlink Devices of the United States to commercialize another ultra-light battery concept, which also uses gallium arsenide in the production process. The three-junction battery developed by Microlink has reached an efficiency of 37.75% and a power density of more than 3000 W / kg. It has been used in Zephyr S HALE, a high-altitude drone that completely uses solar energy and can perform satellite-like functions.

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