Solar cells composed of semiconductive materials
A solar cell is composed of a semiconductive material having an active zone in which charge carriers are produced by photons which strike and penetrate into the solar cell. The cell is comprised of a semiconductive body having an electrically insulating laminate with metal contacts therein positioned on the semiconductor body in the active zone thereof. The insulating laminate is composed of a double layer of insulating material, with the layer in direct contact with the semiconductive surface being composed of SiO2 which is either natural or is produced at temperatures below 800/sup 0/ C. And the layer superimposed above the SiO2 layer being composed of a different insulating material, such as plasma-produced Si3N4. In certain embodiments of the invention, a whole-area pn-junction is provided parallel to the semiconductive surface. The solar cells of the invention exhibit a higher degree of efficiency due to a higher fixed interface charged density, and low surface recombination velocity, an increased UV sensitivity, improved surface protection and passivation and improved anti-reflection characteristics relative to prior art solar cell devices.
- Assignee:
- IFI; EDB-81-103895
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4253881
- OSTI ID:
- 6352718
- Resource Relation:
- Patent Priority Date: Priority date 23 Oct 1978, German, Federal Republic of (F.R. Germany)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
P-N JUNCTIONS
SILICON NITRIDES
SILICON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
JUNCTIONS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PNICTIDES
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion