Electroluminescence analysis of irradiated GaInP/GaInAs/Ge space solar cells

Electroluminescence measured at different injection current densities is used to study the effect of particle irradiation on GaInP/GaInAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells. By employing the optoelectronic reciprocity relation, the irradiation-induced degradation in the J–V characteristics of all individual subcells and their underlying diode saturation parameters is derived. Also, the dependence of the solar cell irradiation response on the position of the irradiation-induced non-radiative recombination centers within the cell active region, i.e., the quasi-neutral regions and the space charge region, is discussed.

► Electroluminescence measurements allow the determination of the solar cell photovoltage.
► Saturation current densities of all subcells of a monolithic multi-junction solar are derived.
► The degradation of all subcells under space conditions is analyzed.