Solar cells composed of semiconductive materials

Details Solar cells composed of semiconductive materials Solar cells composed of semiconductive materials

1979-10-10

1981-03-03

Weisstuch, Aaron

Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric

Photoelectric

Cells

136255, 357 30, 357 54, H01L 3104

Patent

active

042538815

ABSTRACT:
A solar cell is composed of a semiconductive material having an active zone in which charge carriers are produced by photons which strike and penetrate into the solar cell. The cell is comprised of a semiconductive body having an electrically insulating laminate with metal contacts therein positioned on the semiconductor body in the active zone thereof. The insulating laminate is composed of a double layer of insulating material, with the layer in direct contact with the semiconductive surface being composed of SiO.sub.2 which is either natural or is produced at temperatures below 800.degree. C. and the layer superimposed above the SiO.sub.2 layer being composed of a different insulating material, such as plasma-produced Si.sub.3 N.sub.4. In certain embodiments of the invention, a whole-area pn-junction is provided parallel to the semiconductive surface. The solar cells of the invention exhibit a higher degree of efficiency due to a higher fixed interface charged density, and low surface recombination velocity, an increased UV sensitivity, improved surface protection and passivation and improved anti-reflection characteristics relative to prior art solar cell devices.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4070689 (1978-01-01), Coleman et al.
patent: 4090213 (1978-05-01), Maserjian et al.
R. J. Stirn et al., "A 15% Efficient Antireflection Coated Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Solar Cell", Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 27, pp. 95-98 (1975).
G. C. Salter et al., "Silicon Solar Cells Using Natural Inversion Layers Found in Thermally Oxidized p-Silicon", Solid State Electronics, vol. 20, pp. 95-104, (1977).
P. Van Halen et al., "Improvement of the Efficiency of Silicon Mis-Inversion Layer Solar Cells", Proceedings 1977 European Photovoltaic Conf., pp. 280-288 (Reidel Pub. Co.).

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