Solar cell device having improved efficiency
A body of semiconductor material in a solar cell device has a means for collecting electron-hole pairs with an incident surface through which solar radiation enters. The collecting means can be a PN junction between two regions of opposite conductivity of the semiconductor body, or a partially transparent metallic film on the semiconductor body providing a metal to semiconductor material surface barrier rectifying junction. On a surface opposite the incident surface of the collecting means is a non-continuous oxide layer. The oxide layer is non-continuous because of openings extending through the oxide layer to the opposite surface. In the openings at the opposite surface and on the oxide layer is a reflecting contact which functions both as an electrical contact and as a reflector to solar radiation in the semiconductor body. 7 claims, 3 figures.
- Assignee:
- RCA Corp.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3988167
- OSTI ID:
- 7315760
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 7 Mar 1975
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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