Photovoltaic cells with processed surfaces and related applications

• Main Author: SATER, BERNARD L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.11.2013
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

GRFDP1 IOWO Photovoltaic cells and processes that mitigate recombination losses of photogenerated carriers are provided. To reduce recombination losses, diffuse doping layers in active photovoltaic (PV) elements are coated with patterns of dielectric material(s) that reduce contact between metal contacts and the active PV element. Various patterns can be utilized, and one or more surfaces of the PV element can be coated with one or more dielectrics. Vertical Multi-Junction photovoltaic cells can be produced with patterned PV elements, or unit cells. While patterned PV elements can increase series resistance of VMJ photovoltaic cells, and patterning one or more surfaces in the PV element can add complexity to a process utilized to produce VMJ photovoltaic cells, reduction of carrier losses at diffuse doping layers in a PV element increases efficiency of photovoltaic cells, and thus provide with PV operational advantages that outweigh increased manufacturing complexity. System to fabricate the photovoltaic cells is provided. * II Z tD * .L * / - , u0 FIG, I