High efficiency nanostructured photovoltaic device manufacturing

• US 9,117,954 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: European Nano Invest AB, Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
• Original Assignee: European Nano Invest AB
• Inventors: Jiawook, Rizgar
• Primary Examiner(s): LEONG, SUSAN DANG
• Application Number:
  US13/574,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20120291862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 136/252, 136/256, 136/258
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02168 the coatings being antireflective or having enhancing optical properties for the solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02363 of the semiconductor body itself, e.g. textured active layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/035218 the quantum structure being quantum dots
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/055 where light is absorbed and re-emitted at a different wavelength by the optical element directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/056 the light-reflecting means being of the back surface reflector [BSR] type
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/22 Roughened surfaces, e.g. at the interface between epitaxial layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/405 Reflective materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/502 Wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

Photovoltaic and Light emitted diode devices comprise of epitaxial wafer of plurality of layers has been proposed. Quantum Dots are deposited onto the micro-nanostructure layer from the light incident direction to increasing light transmission to the active layer. Quantum dots deposited between the light source and the active layer, on the micro-nanostructure layer, to improve light excitation, since it can absorb wavelengths, which are not absorbed by the active layer, and the size and composition of quantum dots can determine its bandgap. A micro-nanostructured layer at the bottom of the PV wafer, which is produced by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), increases the internal light reflections in the active layer, which increases the efficiency of light absorption and that leads to a photocurrent enhancement.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic device comprising:

A first conductive layer;

A second conductive layer;

An epitaxial grown wafer comprising an active layer, the epitaxial grown wafer situated between the first and the second conductive layers, wherein the active layer comprises at least one np junction and comprises material exhibiting absorption of radiation;

A first nanostructured layer situated between the first conductive layer and the epitaxial grown wafer, the first nanostructured layer having a plurality of quantum dots deposited on the surface thereof proximate to the active layer, wherein the plurality of quantum dots increases the radiation absorption from incident solar spectrum for converting more photons into charge carriers; and

A second nanostructured layer situated between the second conductive layer and the epitaxial grown wafer, wherein the second nanostructure layer increases the internal reflection inside the active layer.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the quantum dots have different compositions.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the quantum dots have different sizes.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the nanostructure layers are produced using nanoimprint lithography methods.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the quantum dots are chosen from among inorganic materials, metallic materials, and semiconductor materials including, elements from Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V and Group VI materials.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the quantum dots are chosen from among CdS, CdSe, CdTe, InP, InAs, ZnS, ZnSe, HgTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InSb, Si, Ge, AlAs, AlSb, PbSe, PbS, PbTe, InGaAs, InGaN and AlInGaP.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the np-junction is multi-junction.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wafer is an epitaxial grown material chosen from among InP, InAs, ZnS, ZnSe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InSb, Si, SiC, Ge, AlAs, AlSb, PbSe, PbS, PbTe, InGaAs, InGaN and AlInGaP.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wafer is epitaxial grown on a nano-structured surface of a substrate to a thickness of 20-100 micrometers.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the wafer is epitaxial grown on a nano-structured surface of a substrate having an outer edge, where a space in the outer edge of the substrate surface is protected in order to limit the epitaxial growth on the outer edge.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the epitaxial grown wafer is separated from the nano-structured surface of the substrate.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the nanostructure surfaces are structured by a nanoimprint lithography method.

2. A light emitting device comprising:

A first conductive layer;

A second conductive layer;

An epitaxial grown wafer comprising an active layer, the epitaxial grown wafer situated between the first and the second conductive layers, wherein the active layer comprises at least one np junction and comprises material exhibiting absorption of radiation;

A first nanostructured layer situated between the first conductive layer and the epitaxial grown wafer, the first nanostructured layer having a plurality of quantum dots deposited on the surface thereof proximate to the active layer, wherein the plurality of quantum dots increases the radiation absorption from incident solar spectrum for converting more photons into charge carriers; and

A second nanostructured layer situated between the second conductive layer and the epitaxial grown wafer, wherein the second nanostructure layer increases the internal reflection inside the active layer.

14. The device according to claim 2, wherein the quantum dots have different compositions.

15. The device according to claim 2, wherein the quantum dots have different sizes.

16. The device according to claim 2, wherein the nanostructure layers are produced using nanoimprint lithography methods.

17. The device according to claim 2, wherein the quantum dots are chosen from among inorganic materials, metallic materials, and semiconductor materials including, elements from Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V and Group VI materials.

18. The device according to claim 2, wherein the quantum dots are chosen from among CdS, CdSe, CdTe, InP, InAs, ZnS, ZnSe, HgTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InSb, Si, Ge, AlAs, AlSb, PbSe, PbS, PbTe, InGaAs, InGaN and AlInGaP.

19. The device according to claim 2, wherein the np-junction is multi-junction.

20. The device according to claim 2, wherein the wafer is an epitaxial grown material chosen from among InP, InAs, ZnS, ZnSe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InSb, Si, SiC, Ge, AlAs, AlSb, PbSe, PbS, PbTe, InGaAs, InGaN and AlInGaP.