A Ga0.51In0.49P/GaAs‐based photovoltaic converter for two‐directional optical power and data transmission

Abstract A GaAs‐based photovoltaic converter for optical‐to‐electrical power conversion and for data transmission was developed. the device structure is based on a modified GaAs solar cell structure having a lattice‐matched Ga 0.51 In 0.49 P window layer. the converter consists of an array of series‐connected photovoltaic cells. the input optical laser power is transmitted via a single optical multimode fibre and distributed homogeneously to the separate cells. One of the cells has separate connections for acting as a light‐emitting diode for data transmission in the opposite direction. the conversion eficiency of the individual cells was measured to be 49%, and the array conversion efficiency was 41%.