Photovoltaic cell with nano-patterned substrate

Title: Photovoltaic cell with nano-patterned substrate

A photovoltaic solar cell comprises a nano-patterned substrate layer. A plurality of nano-windows are etched into an intermediate substrate layer to form the nano-patterned substrate layer. The nano-patterned substrate layer is positioned between an n-type semiconductor layer composed of an n-type semiconductor material and a p-type semiconductor layer composed of a p-type semiconductor material. Semiconductor material accumulates in the plurality of nano-windows, causing a plurality of heterojunctions to form between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer.

Inventors:: Cruz-Campa, Jose Luis; Zhou, Xiaowang; Zubia, David

Issue Date:: 2016-10-18

OSTI Identifier:: 1329302

Assignee:: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM) SNL-A

Patent Number(s):: 9,472,702

Application Number:: 13/681,157

Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2012 Nov 19

Research Org:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org:: USDOE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 14 SOLAR ENERGY

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Works referenced in this record:

InGaAsN/GaAs heterojunction for multi-junction solar cells
patent, June 2001

Kurtz, Steven; Allerman, Andrew; Klem, John
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