Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Panel or array
Patent
1992-02-20
1993-06-22
Weisstuch, Aaron
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Panel or array
136246, 136256, 136258, 136259, 136255, 437 2, 437 4, 427 74, H01L 3104, H01L 3118
Patent
active
052213641
ABSTRACT:
A method for fabricating a lightweight solar cell is provided wherein a) an LD silica aerogel substrate at densities between 10-1,000 mg/cc is prepared, b) the surface of such aerogel substrate is polished to an optical quality surface c) a dielectric planarization layer of SiO.sub.2 is applied to so-polished substrate surface and d) one or more photovoltaic thin film layers are deposited on the planarization layer to form such lightweight solar cell, which includes an LD aerogel substrate that was not available before the invention hereof. Such substrates as well as the PV thin film layers are sufficiently transparent to admit energizing light not only through the PV layers of the cell but also if desired, through the substrate side of such cell, to energize such PV layers from one or both sides as desired. The solar cells of the invention, with their LD aerogel substrates are much lighter than prior art solar cells. This is advantageous in satellite applications since the solar array weight is substantial. Such lightweight solar cells of the invention also find further advantage on the ground, e.g. for solar-powered vehicles in which weight is a primary concern.
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Singer Donald J.
Stover Thomas C.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Weisstuch Aaron
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