Polycrystalline photovoltaic cell

Patent · Tue Oct 25 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5424099

Jordan, J F; Lampkin, C M

A photovoltaic cell is disclosed, having an electrically conductive substrate, which may be glass having a film of conductive tin oxide; a first layer containing a suitable semiconductor, which layer has a first component film with an amorphous structure and a second component film with a polycrystalline structure; a second layer forming a heterojunction with the first layer; and suitable electrodes where the heterojunction is formed from a solution containing copper, the amorphous film component is superposed above an electrically conductive substrate to resist permeation of the copper-containing material to shorting electrical contact with the substrate. The penetration resistant amorphous layer permits a variety of processes to be used in forming the heterojunction with even very thin layers (1-6 /SUB u/ thick) of underlying polycrystalline semiconductor materials. In some embodiments, the amorphous-like structure may be formed by the addition of aluminum or zirconium compounds to a solution of cadmium salts sprayed over a heated substrate.

• Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4412091
• OSTI ID: 5424099
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 4 Mar 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-127149
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
DESIGN
ALUMINIUM
CRYSTAL DOPING
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
POLYCRYSTALS
SUBSTRATES
TIN OXIDES
ZIRCONIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYSTALS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TIN COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion