Three-junction solar cell

Patent · Tue Mar 11 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5861741

Ludowise, M J

A monolithic photovoltaic cell is described which consists of: an upper surface layer adapted for entrance of exciting light, three semiconductive layers positioned sequentially with respect to a position starting from the upper surface layer, namely an upper layer, a middle layer, and a lower layer, within each of the semiconductive layers, a photovoltaic junction, thus providing upper, middle, and lower junctions, the upper junction having a first polarity with respect to the upper surface, the middle and lower junctions having a second polarity opposite to that of the upper junction, a conductive substrate beneath the lower layer, a conductive electrode connected to the substrate, a light-permeable electrode attached to the upper surface of the upper surface layer, a high gap transparent between the middle layer and the lower layer, a first high conductivity layer between the middle layer and the hig-gap transparent layer, an aperture through the upper, middle, first high conductivity, and transparent layers, the aperture having stepped sides exposing a portion of the upper surfaces of the middle layer, the first high conductivity layer, and the lower layer, a first metallic conductor in the aperture in ohmic contact with the top of the bottom layer and in overlapping contact with the top of the first high conductivity layer, a second metallic conductor in the aperture insulated from the first conductor and in contact with the upper surface of the middle layer, and means for external electrical connections to the substrate connected electrode, the light permeable electrode, and the second conductor.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4575576
• OSTI ID: 5861741
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
APERTURES
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODES
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EQUIPMENT
EXCITATION
JUNCTIONS
LAYERS
MATERIALS
OPACITY
OPENINGS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PERMEABILITY
PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLARIZATION
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SUBSTRATES