Method for passing photovoltaic current between a subcell formed from a group II-VI semiconductor material and a subcell formed from a group IV semiconductor material
First Claim
1. A method for passing photovoltaic current between a second subcell formed from a single crystal Group II-VI semiconductor material and a first subcell formed from a single crystal Group IV semiconductor material, comprising the steps of:
- forming the first subcell by an epitaxial growth process, the first subcell having a first upper surface;
forming a tunnel heterojunction between the first subcell and the second subcell, said step of forming the tunnel heterojunction including the substeps offorming a first layer on the first upper surface of the first subcell by an epitaxial growth process, the first layer comprising a single crystal Group IV semiconductor material, the first layer having a first conductivity type and forming one side of the tunnel heterojunction, the first layer having a second upper surface;
forming a second layer, by an epitaxial growth process on the second upper surface of the first layer, the second layer comprising a single crystal Group II-VI semiconductor material and having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, the second layer forming the other side of the tunnel heterojunction, the second layer having a third upper surface;
forming the second subcell by an epitaxial growth process on the third upper surface; and
responsive to said step of forming the heterojunction, tunneling carriers formed by light incident on the first and second subcells through the tunnel heterojunction, thereby permitting a photoelectric series current to flow through the first and second subcells.
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Abstract
A method for passing photovoltaic current between a subcell formed from a single crystal Group ll-VI semiconductor material and a subcell formed from a single crystal Group IV semiconductor material, includes the steps of forming a first subcell by an epitaxial growth process, the first subcell having a first upper surface; forming a tunnel heterojunction between the first subcell and the second subcell, and tunneling carriers formed by light incident on the first and second subcells through the tunnel heterojunction, thereby permitting a photoelectric series current to flow through the first and second subcells.
1 Citation
9 Claims
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1. A method for passing photovoltaic current between a second subcell formed from a single crystal Group II-VI semiconductor material and a first subcell formed from a single crystal Group IV semiconductor material, comprising the steps of:
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forming the first subcell by an epitaxial growth process, the first subcell having a first upper surface; forming a tunnel heterojunction between the first subcell and the second subcell, said step of forming the tunnel heterojunction including the substeps of forming a first layer on the first upper surface of the first subcell by an epitaxial growth process, the first layer comprising a single crystal Group IV semiconductor material, the first layer having a first conductivity type and forming one side of the tunnel heterojunction, the first layer having a second upper surface; forming a second layer, by an epitaxial growth process on the second upper surface of the first layer, the second layer comprising a single crystal Group II-VI semiconductor material and having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, the second layer forming the other side of the tunnel heterojunction, the second layer having a third upper surface; forming the second subcell by an epitaxial growth process on the third upper surface; and responsive to said step of forming the heterojunction, tunneling carriers formed by light incident on the first and second subcells through the tunnel heterojunction, thereby permitting a photoelectric series current to flow through the first and second subcells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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