Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Cells
Patent
1980-12-31
1982-06-15
Weisstuch, Aaron
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Cells
136264, 136265, 427 76, 4272552, 148174, 148178, 357 16, 357 30, H01L 3106, H01L 3118
Patent
active
043352669
ABSTRACT:
An improved thin-film, large area solar cell, and methods for forming the same, having a relatively high light-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency and characterized in that the cell comprises a p-n type heterojunction formed of: (i) a first semiconductor layer comprising a photovoltaic active material selected from the class of I-III-VI.sub.2 chalcopyrite ternary materials which is vacuum deposited in a thin "composition-graded" layer ranging from on the order of about 2.5 microns to about 5.0 microns (.congruent.2.5.mu.m to .congruent.5.0.mu.m) and wherein the lower region of the photovoltaic active material preferably comprises a low resistivity region of p-type semiconductor material having a superimposed region of relatively high resistivity, transient n-type semiconductor material defining a transient p-n homojunction; and (ii), a second semiconductor layer comprising a low resistivity n-type semiconductor material; wherein interdiffusion (a) between the elemental constituents of the two discrete juxtaposed regions of the first semiconductor layer defining a transient p-n homojunction layer, and (b) between the transient n-type material in the first semiconductor layer and the second n-type semiconductor layer, causes the transient n-type material in
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Chen Wen S.
Mickelsen Reid A.
The Boeing Company
Weisstuch Aaron
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