Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 11-15-2017

Abstract

In this work, techniques to isolate thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices from the growth substrate and their subsequent integration with Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) diamond heat spreaders will be discussed, with the envisioned goal of fabricating thermally managed cells. CVD diamond heat spreaders are a great option for thermal management of TPV cells. The key requirement, however, is the bonding of the TPV cell directly onto the diamond wafer without the presence of thick (>350 μm) growth substrates, which can offer significant thermal resistance.

The first approach is to release GaSb epitaxial layers from GaSb substrates. However, this is challenging due lack of highly selective etchants for the GaSb/AlSb/InAs system. Nonetheless, small areas of GaSb films were released.

Another option is to grow GaSb TPVs on GaAs substrates. Taking full advantage of the highly selective etch chemistry of GaAs/AlAs systems large area GaSb thin-films were released from GaAs substrates. However, the threading dislocations due to the 7.8 % mismatch between GaSb and GaAs resulted in devices with poor performance.

Finally, the fabrication and integration of thin film TPV cells to CVD diamond is demonstrated by growing InGaAs TPV cells on InP substrates. Lattice-matched InGaAs/InP is the ideal system since there are no threading dislocations and the system offers high etch selectivity. The many challenges in achieving freestanding thin film TPV devices are described along with structural and electrical characterization data.

Keywords

thin-film cells, thermophotovoltaics, GaSb cells, InGaAs cells, epitaxial lift-off, substrate removal

Sponsors

Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies No. EEC-1041895

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Electrical Engineering

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ganesh Balakrishnan

Second Committee Member

Adam Hecht

Third Committee Member

Payman Zarkeh-Ha

Fourth Committee Member

Kyle Montgomery

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