Paint solar cell and its fabrication

• US 20020157702A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cordaro, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,689,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/035281 Shape of the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0384 including other non-monocrystalline materials, e.g. semiconductor particles embedded in an insulating material H01L31/0392 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03928 including AIBIIICVI compound, e.g. CIS, CIGS deposited on metal or polymer foils
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0749 including a AIBIIICVI compound, e.g. CdS/CulnSe2 [CIS] heterojunction solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/18 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/541 CuInSe2 material PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A solar cell has an active structure including a paint voltage source having a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in a first-layer binder, and a second paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in a second-layer binder. The second paint layer structure is in electrical contact with the first paint layer structure. The active structure further includes an electrically conductive contact structure having a first electrically conductive contact to the first paint layer structure, and a second electrically conductive contact to the second paint layer structure. At least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough to the paint voltage source. A capacitive paint layer may be included to store electrical charge produced by the active structure. The active structure may be affixed to a support.

Claims

1. A solar cell comprising an active structure including:

a voltage source having a p-type semiconductor layer structure and an n-type semiconductor layer structure in electrical contact with each other, at least one of the semiconductor layer structures being a paint layer structure comprising first-layer paint pigment particles dispersed in a first-layer binder, the first-layer paint pigment particles being selected from the group consisting of p-type pigment particles and n-type pigment particles; and

an electrically conductive contact structure having

a first electrically conductive contact to a first one of the semiconductor layer structures, and

a second electrically conductive contact to a second one of the semiconductor layer structures, at least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permitting light to pass therethrough to the voltage source.

2. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises

a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in the first-layer binder, and

a second paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in a second-layer binder.

3. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises

a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in the first-layer binder, and

a second structure comprising an n-type semiconductor.

4. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises

a first paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in the first-layer binder, and

a second paint layer structure comprising a p-type semiconductor.

5. The solar cell of claim 1, further including

a support to which the active structure is attached.

6. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including

a capacitor in electrical communication with the second electrically conductive contact, the capacitor comprising

a capacitive paint layer structure comprising pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles dispersed in a capacitive layer binder, a first side of the capacitive paint layer structure contacting the second electrically conductive contact, and

a capacitor electrically conductive contact in electrical communication with a second side of the capacitive paint layer structure remote from the first side.

7. A solar cell comprising an active structure including:

a paint voltage source having

a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in a first-layer binder, and

a second paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in a second-layer binder, the second paint layer structure being in electrical contact with the first paint layer structure; and

an electrically conductive contact structure having

a first electrically conductive contact to the first paint layer structure, and

a second electrically conductive contact to the second paint layer structure, at least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permitting light to pass therethrough to the paint voltage source.

8. The solar cell of claim 7, further including

a support to which the active structure is attached.

9. The solar cell of claim 8, wherein the support is flexible.

10. The solar cell of claim 8, wherein the support is flat.

11. The solar cell of claim 8, wherein the support is curved.

12. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first-layer binder and the second-layer binder is an organic material.

13. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first-layer binder and the second-layer binder is an inorganic material.

14. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first paint layer structure and the second paint layer structure comprises a filler particle.

15. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the first electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including

a capacitor in electrical communication with the second electrically conductive contact.

16. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the first electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including

a capacitor in electrical communication with the second electrically conductive contact, the capacitor comprising

a capacitive paint layer structure comprising pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles dispersed in a capacitive layer binder, a first side of the capacitive paint layer structure contacting the second electrically conductive contact, and

a capacitor electrically conductive contact in electrical communication with a second side of the capacitive paint layer structure remote from the first side of the capacitive paint layer structure.

17. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the second electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including

a capacitor in electrical communication with the first electrically conductive contact, the capacitor comprising

a capacitive paint layer structure comprising pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles dispersed in a capacitive layer binder, a first side of the capacitive paint layer structure contacting the first electrically conductive contact, and

a capacitor electrically conductive contact in electrical communication with a second side of the capacitive paint layer structure remote from the first side of the capacitive paint layer structure.

18. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein

the first electrically conductive contact contacts the first paint layer structure and allows light to pass therethrough, and

the first paint layer structure is black in color.

19. A method for preparing a solar cell, comprising the steps of

preparing a liquid first paint comprising p-type pigment particles, a first-paint binder, and a first paint liquid vehicle;

preparing a liquid second paint comprising n-type pigment particles, a second-paint binder, and a second paint liquid vehicle; and

fabricating the solar cell by

applying a first layer of the liquid first paint and at least partially drying the liquid first paint by removing the first paint liquid vehicle, to leave a solid first paint layer structure comprising the p-type pigment particles and the first-paint binder,

applying a second layer of the liquid second paint and drying the liquid second paint by removing the second paint liquid vehicle, to leave a solid second paint layer structure comprising the n-type pigment particles and the second-paint binder, the second layer being in facing contact with the first layer, and

forming a first electrically conductive contact to the solid first paint layer structure and a second electrically conductive contact to the solid second paint layer structure, at least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permitting light to pass therethrough.