Iron-copper metallization for flexible solar/cell arrays

The feasibility of a copper-base metallization for shallow-junction cells applied in flexible solar arrays in space is discussed. This type of metallization will reduce usage of precious metals (such as silver), increase case of bonding (by welding or by soldering) and eliminate heavy high Z interconnects (such as molybdenum). The main points of concern are stability against thermally induced diffusion of copper into silicon which causes degradation of shallow cell junctions, and low series resistance of the contact with semiconductor which promotes cell efficiency

STUDIES OF CORROSION BY MOLTEN ZINC AND CADMIUM SYSTEMS

A corrosion program was undertaken in conjunction with development of pyrometallurgical processes employing liquid metal solvents as processing media. The metal solvents under consideration for uranium, plutonium, and thorium were zinc, cadmium, and magnesium, either alone or in various combinations with each other. The objective of the program was to find suitable container materials for the various liquid metal systems encountered. The corrosion program consisted of 100-hr static tests designed to screen a large number of materials. Promising materials were then subjected to 1000-hr dynamic capsule tests, or used in forced- convection or thermal-convection loops. The latter enabled an assessment of mass transfer corrosion. Zinc-base systems were tested at temperatures up to 750 ts C, and the cadmium-base systems were tested at temperatures of 550 to 700 ts C. Magnesium was generally the other constituent, being used in processes either as a reducing agent or in concentration sufficient to provide certain desirable solubility relations. The corrosion behavior of dilute zinc- cadmium solutions was also investigated, zinc being used to provide desirable solubility effects. (auth