Since the mid-1990s, Umicore has been a recognized market leader in the supply of epi-ready, dislocation-free germanium substrates for III-V multi-junction solar cells.Â
Today, germanium substrates continue to play a major role in innovation. The space industry is on the verge of rapid expansion into real-time earth observation, internet communication and space exploration. This new space race will come with demands for suitable power generation, where solar energy is expected to remain the premier technology for many years to come.Â
Solar cells for space missions are typically based on multi-junction technology. The cells have multiple p–n junctions made of different semiconductor materials stacked on top of each other. Each p-n junction converts a different part of the light spectrum into electricity, improving overall conversion efficiency.
Triple-junction solar cell
Triple-junction cells consist of indium gallium phosphide (InGaP), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and germanium. They are fabricated using metal-organic vapor deposition (MOCVD) on germanium wafers. Conversion efficiencies of triple-junction cells have been demonstrated above 30% under AM0 spectrum. Triple-junction solar cells are the selection of choice for space applications thanks to their high resistance to cosmic radiation, low temperature coefficient and high efficiency.
Germanium is the preferred substrate as it offers high strength at minimal thickness, cosmic radiation hardness and active contribution to the cell’s overall performance. Advanced triple-junction solar cells on germanium offer the best lifetime performance for a given weight and size ratio.
To support the rapid growth of space exploration, and with the backing of the European Space Agency, we are developing a pioneering germanium (Ge) wafer re-use technology based on a porosification process. This advanced method creates a precisely controlled weak layer within the Ge substrate, allowing the solar cell structure to be cleanly lifted off the mother wafer. The result is a reduction in germanium consumption by at least a factor of ten—significantly increasing resource efficiency and enabling scalable, sustainable production for future space missions.