Highest efficiency solar cells

I suspect that the highest efficiency cells will not be the ones used by NASA, since space applications have requirements (temperature, radiation, etc.) that will be more important than efficiency, and they will not be the latest technology due to the long design, test and qualifying processes.

I understand that Mitsubishi makes space rated panels, though.

And you might find this article of interest:

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/7416/20159/00931728.pdf

What's the application, voltage you require, and how small do you want the cell or panel of cells to be. From my experience you will find space-rated cells to be quite large (by there very nature), which is quite ironic when you think about it.

Just 1sq.cm area but with long life, high efficiency, not radhard. single or double cell coupled to get just enough voltage and dumped it on a capacitor for small electronics. I want laser powered small power for special use.

After searching the world for specialty small solar cell and panel manufacturers and suppliers I managed to find these companies (this is straight out of my personal database with notes added).

Sinonar http://www.sinonar.com.tw/ Very small cells available with good O/P voltage

Trony Miniature solar cells

Photon Technologies Inc http://members.aol.com/photontek3/photon3/itf1.html

Microsolpower http://www.microsolpower.com OEM bulk order only. (INDIA)

Iowa Thin Film Technologies http://www.iowathinfilm.com

SolarWorld http://www.solar-world.com Distributer. Satallite supercells 0.5V cells.

Silicon Solar http://www.siliconsolar.com US. standard 0.5V solar cells from 0.232A (64x13mm). OEM custom Design request over internet possible.

Flexcell http://www.flexcell.ch (Swiss). Most promising is OEM manufacturer of customizable small rectangular modules for outdoor applications. OEM custom Design request over internet possible.

IXYS semiconductor small cells!!!

Solar Power Industries http://www.solarpowerindustries.com OEM production possible. Unsure if too helpful (US)

Thai Photovolaics http://www.thaiphotovoltaics.com/home.asp POTENTIAL.

AstroPower (GE) http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/solar/en/solar_cells.htm Likely too large

Cellsico http://cellsico.com 0.5V 2A OEM cut cells.

Phew. It has been about 2 years since I have looked at any of these companies but you may find something you can use.

As a side note, could your device harness electromagnetic energy or vibration instead. This solar method is really not very efficient and is prone to environmental contamination, and requiring a direct line of site for the laser, etc.

Your not putting a light-powered sensor device in a furnace are you?

Thanks for info !

Nic

ATS Automation had a division making pliable solar pannels. The technology was called Spheral Solar.

They seem to have shut down these operations: http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/000133.html#000133

Space solar cells are not of a high efficient type: they are lucky to be irradiated by short wavelength light, the kind of light that is transformed to electricity.

The longer wavelengths that we see and feel are not used in the traditional PV cell.

The irradiation level is also much higher than the 1 kW /m² we can have down here.

Space solar cells are not of a high efficient type??? I am wondering how ya have based this info and what yr was the info based on. The solar panels for MESSENGER were very high output triple layer types.

You must read what I write: they deliver a high output due the high irradiadion with short wavelengths.

If you would use a solar cell vor earth usage in space, you would run into trouble with the currents it delivers.

ya right, my bad, sorry