Photovoltaic laser-power converter based on AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures

Abstract

Photovoltaic laser-power converters for a wavelength of λ = 809 nm are developed and fabricated on the basis of single-junction AlGaAs/GaAs structures grown by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy. The parameters of the photovoltaic structure constituted by an optical “window” and a cladding layer are optimized by mathematical simulation. Photovoltaic converters with areas of S = 10.2 and 12.2 mm² and 4 cm² are fabricated and studied. For photocells with S = 10.2 mm², the monochromatic efficiency (η) was 60% at a current density of 5.9 A/cm². A photovoltaic module with a working voltage of 4 V (η = 56.3% at 0.34 A/cm²) is assembled.