Photo-voltaic power generating means and methods

Patent · 10 January 1984

OSTI ID:864834

Kroger, Ferdinand A.; Rod, Robert L.; Panicker, Ramachandra M. P.; Knaster, Mark B.

A photo-voltaic power cell based on a photoelectric semiconductor compound and the method of using and making the same. The semiconductor compound in the photo-voltaic power cell of the present invention can be electrolytically formed at a cathode in an electrolytic solution by causing discharge or decomposition of ions or molecules of a non-metallic component with deposition of the non-metallic component on the cathode and simultaneously providing ions of a metal component which discharge and combine with the non-metallic component at the cathode thereby forming the semiconductor compound film material thereon. By stoichiometrically adjusting the amounts of the components, or otherwise by introducing dopants into the desired amounts, an N-type layer can be formed and thereafter a P-type layer can be formed with a junction therebetween. The invention is effective in producing homojunction semiconductor materials and heterojunction semiconductor materials. The present invention also provides a method of using three electrodes in order to form the semiconductor compound material on one of these electrodes. Various examples are given for manufacturing different photo-voltaic cells in accordance with the present invention.

• Research Organization: Monosolar, Inc., Santa Monica, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-76ET20218
• Assignee: Monosolar, Inc. (CA)
• Patent Number(s): 4,425,194
• Application Number: 06/460,013
• OSTI ID: 864834
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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accordance
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cell
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combine
component
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decomposition
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desired
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discharge
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electrodes
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introducing
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junction
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layer
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materials
means
metal
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metallic component
method
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molecules
n-type
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p-type
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photo-voltaic
photo-voltaic power
photoelectric
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power
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producing
provides
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stoichiometrically
thereafter
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