Low Cost GaSb Infrared PV Cells. Gallium Antimonide (GaSb) infrared sensitive photovoltaic (IR PV) cells can be used as solar cells or in infrared power ...
Low Cost GaSb Infrared PV Cells Gallium Antimonide (GaSb) infrared sensitive photovoltaic (IR PV) cells can be used as solar cells or in infrared power beaming or in multiple thermophotovoltaic systems. GaSb cells can be made inexpensively. The argument is based on the fact that the cost of the gallium and antimony in a GaSb chip is only 14 cents per cm2 and the real costs are in the process chosen and its complexity. If we were trying to make planar solar cells producing only 0.01 Watts per cm2, this material cost would be prohibitive. However, our cells operate at a high power density of 1 W/cm2 setting a cost target of about $0.5 per Watt well above the material cost. In order to make GaSb cells at low cost, we have chosen processes that parallel the silicon solar cell manufacturing process. Since silicon cells are now being made for $3 per 100cm2 or 3 cents per cm2, we have a good chance of having process costs well under $0.5 per W. The figure below shows a projection for the GaSb cell cost given input from JX Crystals and the Ioffe Physico-Tech Institute. The cost is a function of volume. Note that the GaSb cell fabrication process closely parallels the conventional Si cell process where both cells are made with simple diffusions without toxic gases. Therefore, the GaSb cell cost curve is expected to parallel the Si cell cost curve. However, when expressed in $ per Watt, the GaSb cell is almost 100 times less expensive than the Si cell at a given production volume because of its higher operating power density.
