Method of making quasi-grain boundary-free polycrystalline solar cell structure and solar cell structure obtained thereby

Patent · Tue Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6763520

Gonzalez, F N; Neugroschel, A

A new solar cell structure is provided which will increase the efficiency of polycrystalline solar cells by suppressing or completely eliminating the recombination losses due to the presence of grain boundaries. This is achieved by avoiding the formation of the p-n junction (or other types of junctions) in the grain boundaries and by eliminating the grain boundaries from the active area of the cell. This basic concept can be applied to any polycrystalline material; however, it will be most beneficial for cost-effective materials having small grains, including thin film materials.

• Assignee: University of Florida
• Patent Number(s): US 4431858
• OSTI ID: 6763520
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 12 May 1982; Other Information: PAT-APPL-377558
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SILICON OXIDES
CRYSTAL GROWTH
SOLAR CELLS
FABRICATION
CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
EFFICIENCY
ETCHING
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
POLYCRYSTALS
RECOMBINATION
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
THIN FILMS
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
JUNCTIONS
MICROSTRUCTURE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE FINISHING
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion