Back contact layer for photovoltaic cells

Title: Back contact layer for photovoltaic cells

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A photovoltaic cell structure is disclosed that includes a back contact layer that includes single wall carbon nanotube elements. The single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) back contact is in electrical communication with an adjacent semiconductor layer and provides a buffer characteristic that impedes elemental metal migration from the back contact into the semiconductor active layers. In one embodiment, the SWNT back contact includes a semiconductor characteristic and a buffer characteristic. In another embodiment, the SWNT back contact further includes a metallic characteristic.

Inventors:: Heben, Michael J.; Phillips, Adam B.; Khanal, Rajendra R.; Plotnikov, Victor V.; Compaan, Alvin D.

Issue Date:: 2018-08-07

OSTI Identifier:: 1469122

Assignee:: The University Of Toledo (Toledo, OH) EFRC

Patent Number(s):: 10,043,922

Application Number:: 14/421,718

Contract Number:: SC0006349

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2013 Aug 13

Research Org:: The University Of Toledo, Toledo, OH (United States)

Sponsoring Org:: USDOE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 42 ENGINEERING

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