Multilayer photovoltaic cell

Patent · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6460102

Fraas, L M

A new high efficiency, multijunction photovoltaic solar cell for use with a concentrating lens. This cell comprises an elemental single crystal substrate without an internal light sensitive junction, upon which are two or more successive homogenous layers of semiconductor material, each layer containing within it a light sensitive p/n junction of a similar polarity, each layer having essentially the same lattice constant as the single crystal substrate, each layer having a shorting junction contact with the layer immediately above and below it, each successive layer adsorbing light energy at a shorter wavelength, and each layer being of sufficient thickness and appropriate composition to develop essentially the same current as the other layers. The outer surfaces of the top layer and the substrate are provided with electrical contacts for distribution of the electric current. The top contact comprises a layer of a transparent conductive material with electrical connections and the whole structure is completed with an antireflection coating over the top.

• Assignee: Chevron Research Co
• Patent Number(s): US 4332974
• OSTI ID: 6460102
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
ABSORPTION
ANTIREFLECTION COATINGS
CHALCOGENIDES
COATINGS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
GALLIUM PHOSPHIDE SOLAR CELLS
GERMANIUM
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM OXIDES
INDIUM PHOSPHIDE SOLAR CELLS
JUNCTIONS
LAYERS
LENSES
METALS
MONOCRYSTALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
P-N JUNCTIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STACKS
SUBSTRATES
TIN COMPOUNDS
TIN OXIDES
WAVELENGTHS