Title: Multiband semiconductor compositions for photovoltaic devices

Abstract

The highly mismatched alloy Zn.sub.1-yMn.sub.yO.sub.xTe.sub.1-x, 0.ltoreq.y<1 and 0 < x < 1 and other Group II-IV-Oxygen implanted alloys have been synthesized using the combination of oxygen ion implantation and pulsed laser melting. Incorporation of small quantities of isovalent oxygen leads to the formation of a narrow, oxygen-derived band of extended states located within the band gap of the Zn.sub.1-yMn.sub.yTe host. With multiple band gaps that fall within the solar energy spectrum, Zn.sub.1-yMn.sub.yO.sub.xTe.sub.1-x is a material perfectly satisfying the conditions for single-junction photovoltaics with the potential for power conversion efficiencies surpassing 50%.

Inventors:

Walukiewicz, Wladyslaw; Yu, Kin Man; Wu, Junqiao

Issue Date:

Tue May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2010

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1176272

Patent Number(s):

7709728

Application Number:

10/999,456

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/0296 - including, apart from doping material or other impurities, only AIIBVI compounds, e.g. CdS, ZnS, HgCdTe
H01L31/02966 - {including ternary compounds, e.g. HgCdTe}
H01L31/03046 - {including ternary or quaternary compounds, e.g. GaAlAs, InGaAs, InGaAsP}
H01L31/1832 - {comprising ternary compounds, e.g. Hg Cd Te}
H01L31/1844 - {comprising ternary or quaternary compounds, e.g. Ga Al As, In Ga As P}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/544 - Solar cells from Group III-V materials

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

Y10S438/93 - Ternary or quaternary semiconductor comprised of elements from three different groups, e.g. I-III-V

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC03-76SF00098

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2004 Nov 29

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 14 SOLAR ENERGY