MOCVD epitaxial growth laboratory for making multi-junction cells

laboratories - Innovative materials for energy

MOCVD epitaxial growth laboratory for making multi-junction cells

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#Flexibility #Industrial sector #Multi-junction Photovoltaic Cell

laboratories - Innovative materials for energy

MOCVD epitaxial growth laboratory for making multi-junction cells

RSE’s MOCVD laboratory produces “multi-junction” (MJ) solar cells based on compounds of groups III-IV-V of the periodic table. The manufacturing processes were developed by RSE using an AIXTRON epitaxial reactor specially designed for large-scale production. Over the years, the growth chamber has undergone modifications through various National and European projects in order to increase its flexibility in using different materials.

MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition) uses chemical precursors in both gaseous and metal-organic forms. These are conveyed into a vacuum processing chamber where “wafers” are placed to serve as the support base for the structure of the different layers that make up the solar cell. High-temperature thermo-chemical processes take place in the growth chamber, culminating in the formation of the various semiconductor materials from the different precursors.

Process conditions such as temperature, pressure, precursor gas flow, and composition of reagent mixtures are appropriately selected and constantly monitored, including by “in situ” diagnostic techniques, to obtain materials with optimal crystallographic and electro-optical properties for the purpose of elevating solar cell performance.