Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Cells
Patent
1997-10-14
2000-02-08
Diamond, Alan
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Cells
136260, 136262, 136264, 136265, 438 84, 438 85, 438 86, 438 87, 438 89, 438 95, 257461, 257465, 257466, H01L 310336, H01L 31032
Patent
active
060230207
ABSTRACT:
A solar cell utilizing a chalcopyrite semiconductor and reducing the density of defects on the junction interface of pn junctions is provided. This solar cell includes a substrate, a back electrode formed on the substrate, a p-type chalcopyrite semiconductor thin film formed on the back electrode, an n-type semiconductor thin film formed so as to constitute a pn junction with the p-type chalcopyrite semiconductor thin film, and a transparent electrode formed on the n-type semiconductor thin film. A material having a higher resistivity than the p-type chalcopyrite semiconductor is formed between the p-type chalcopyrite semiconductor thin film and the n-type semiconductor thin film. A thin film made of this material may be formed by deposition from a solution. For example, CuInS.sub.2 is formed on the surface of a p-type chalcopyrite based semiconductor such as CuInSe.sub.2 by contacting the surface of the semiconductor with a solution in which a salt containing group IIIb elements, an organic substance containing group VIb elements and acid are mixed.
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Kushiya et al, "The Role of Cu(InGa)(SeS)2 Surface Layer on a Graded Band-Gap Cu(InGa)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cell Prepared by Two-Stage Method," 25th IEEE PVSC, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Washington, DC, May 1996.
K.O. Velthaus et al., "Novel Buffer Layers for the CuInSe.sub.2 /Buffer/ZnO Devices", 11th E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Oct. 12-16, 1992, pp. 842-845.
H.W. Schock et al., "High Efficiency Chalcopyrite Based Thin Film Solar Cells--Results of the Eurocis-Collaboration", 11th E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, pp. 116-119, Oct. 1992.
H.W. Bloss et al., "Thin-Film Solar Cells", Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, vol. 3, pp. 3-24, 1995 (month Unknown).
Ji-Beom Yoo et al. "Preparation and Properties of CuInSe.sub.2 Solar Cells with a ZnSe Intermediate Layer" Twentieth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, pp. 1431-1436, Sep. 1988.
S.K. Deb "Current Status of Thin Film Solar Cell Research at Seri" Thin Solid Films, vol. 163, pp. 75-84, Sep. 1988.
A.G. Fitzgerald et al. "A microbeam analysis study of heterojunctions formed with CuInS.sub.2 and CuInSe.sub.2 " Solar Energy Materials, vol. 22, pp. 43-61, Mar. 1991.
Communication from European Patent Office and attached Search Report, Feb. 6, 1999.
Hashimoto Yasuhiro
Kohara Naoki
Negami Takayuki
Nishitani Mikihiko
Wada Takahiro
Diamond Alan
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
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