Radiation Test of Silicon Solar Cells for Space Application

Abstract

The degradation of electrical performance due to electron, high energy proton, and low energy proton irradiations was investigated for various space qualified modern solar cells. Electrical performance data taken under AMO/28°C conditions on the irradiated and annealed cells showed that conventional (Conv.) and BSR cells are the least sensitive to damage under high energy particle (electron and proton) irradiations. Black cells were more tolerant to the high energy particle irradiations than BSF cells, and showed the most excellent electrical performance among all types of solar cells after heavy irradiations. Covered cells (Black and BSFR cells) were irradiated with low energy protons. The Voc and Isc degradations of the cells could hardly be found, while the Pmax degradations were about 5%.