Evaluation of the Radiation Resistance of GaAs-based Solar Cells

Abstract

Next generation space solar cells are required to be efficient, light and low cost. In order to GaAs-based devices keep playing a significant role in space the radiation performance needs to be increased to eliminate the required shielding and the cost needs to be dramatically reduced. GaAs nanophotonic structures have the potential to fulfill both requirements. In order to evaluate the radiation performance of different GaAs architectures a simulation platform has been developed and corroborated with experimental data reported in the literature. Exemplary cases of the irradiation-induced degradation in planar and nanowire architectures are presented.