Photovoltaic Cell

• Main Authors: ZEMAN MIROSLAV, JONGERDEN GERT JAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.07.2009
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

The invention relates to a photovoltaic cell, including at least a first junction between a pair of semiconducting regions (4-9). At least one of the pair of semiconducting regions includes at least part of a superlattice comprising a first material interspersed with formations of a second material. The formations are of sufficiently small dimensions so that the effective band gap of the superlattice is at least partly determined by the dimensions. An absorption layer (24-26) is provided between the semiconducting regions and the absorption layer comprises a material for absorption of radiation so as to result in excitation of charge carriers and is of such thickness that excitation levels are determined by the material itself. At least one of the effective energy bands of the superlattice and one of the excitation levels of the material of the absorption layer is selected to match at least one of the excitation levels of the material of the absorption layer and the effective energy band of the superlattice, respectively.