High-efficiency photovoltaic cells

Patent · Mon Jun 21 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6179222

Yang, H T; Zehr, S W

High efficiency solar converters comprised of a two cell, non-lattice matched, monolithic stacked semiconductor configuration using optimum pairs of cells having bandgaps in the range 1.6 to 1.7 eV and 0.95 to 1.1 eV, and a method of fabrication thereof, are disclosed. The high band gap subcells are fabricated using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to produce the required AlGaAs layers of optimized composition, thickness and doping to produce high performance, heteroface homojunction devices. The low bandgap subcells are similarly fabricated from AlGa(As)Sb compositions by LPE, MBE or MOCVD. These subcells are then coupled to form a monolithic structure by an appropriate bonding technique which also forms the required transparent intercell ohmic contact (IOC) between the two subcells. Improved ohmic contacts to the high bandgap semiconductor structure can be formed by vacuum evaporating to suitable metal or semiconductor materials which react during laser annealing to form a low bandgap semiconductor which provides a low contact resistance structure.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• Assignee: ERA-08-029331; EDB-83-120413
• Application Number: ON: DE83010513
• OSTI ID: 6179222
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
DESIGN
FABRICATION
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
ANNEALING
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
GALLIUM ANTIMONIDES
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
LASER-RADIATION HEATING
LIQUID PHASE EPITAXY
MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY
VACUUM EVAPORATION
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EPITAXY
EQUIPMENT
EVAPORATION
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEATING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PLASMA HEATING
PNICTIDES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion