Stress Free Application of Glass Covers for Radiation Hardened Solar Cells and Arrays

This report describes the first sixteen months of a two and one half year program to develop a practical integral protective cover for silicon solar cells. The report discusses selection of Corning 7070 borosilicate glass as an optimum cover material and explains the mechanics of the electrostatic field- assisted bonding process used for cover application. Excellent results have been achieved for most solar cell types. Under environmental evaluations and electron and proton irradiation tests integrally covered cells exhibit performance statistically at least equal to that of cells with conventional glued covers.