HIGH EFFICIENCY PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS WITH SELF CONCENTRATING EFFECT

• US 20080072958A1
• Filed: 09/22/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Banpil Photonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Banpil Photonics, Inc.
• Inventors: DUTTA, ACHYUT KUMAR
• Granted Patent: US 8,716,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0236 Special surface textures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0296 including, apart from doping material or other impurities, only AIIBVI compounds, e.g. CdS, ZnS, HgCdTe
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/035281 Shape of the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03529 Shape of the potential jump barrier or surface barrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

Novel structures of photovoltaic cells (also called as solar cells) are provided. The Cells are based on the micro (or nano) structures which could not only increase the surface area but also have the capability of self concentrating the solar spectrum incident onto the cell. These photovoltaic cells have large power generation capability per unit physical area over the conventional cells. These cells will have enormous applications such as in space, in commercial, residential and industrial applications.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic cell comprising;

a first electrode;

a electric substrate of p or n type with a three dimensional geometric pattern for increasing the surface area and designed for light intensification built on or out of the surface of the substrate;

a second electric material resting on or into the first electric material of type opposite the first electric material and of uniform thickness covering or diffused to the first electrode;

a second electrode of uniform thickness covering the second electric material; and

a passivation material that fills the voids between the geometric pattern and levels the surface,

wherein the three-dimensional geometric-patterns have either vertically straight side or inclined side having an angle and they are positioned/arranged with or without fixed spaces and pitches.

2. The photovoltaic cell as in claim 1 further comprises nano-blocks grown on to the three-dimensional geometric pattern, and on which the second electrical material are formed.

3. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 1 with the second electrode resting on top of the passivation layer instead of underneath it, and wherein the second electrode touch electrically the second electric material to have electrical conduction.

4. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 1 with the second electrode resting on top of a third electric material of type opposite the second electric material.

5. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 1 with a radiation absorbent layer on top of the whole cell.

6. The three-dimensional geometric patterns in claim 1 can be either an integral part of the electric substrate or separately formed onto a uniform electric substrate using a third electric material.

7. A photovoltaic cell comprising;

a first metallic substrate with a three dimensional geometric pattern designed for light intensification and for increasing the surface area and built on or out of the surface of the substrate;

a first electric material of p or n type coating the first electrode;

a second electric material resting on the first electric material of type opposite the first electric material and of uniform thickness covering the first electrode;

an electrode of uniform thickness covering the second electric material; and

a passivation material that fills the voids between the geometric pattern and levels the surface,

wherein the first metallic substrate acts as the electrode, and wherein the three-dimensional geometric-patterns have either vertically straight side or inclined side having an angle and they are positioned/arranged with or without fixed spaces and pitches.

8. The photovoltaic cell as in claim 7 further comprises nano-blocks grown on to the three-dimensional geometric pattern and acts as the first electric material.

9. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 7 with the second electrode resting on top of the passivation layer instead of underneath it, and wherein the second electrode touches electrically the second electric material to have electrical conduction.

10. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 7 with the second electrode resting on top of a third electric material of type opposite the second electric material.

11. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 7 with a radiation absorbent layer on top of the whole cell.

12. The three-dimensional geometric patterns in claim 7 can be either an integral part of the electric substrate or separately formed onto a uniform electric substrate using a third electric material.

13. A photovoltaic cell comprising;

a dielectric substrate with a three dimensional geometric pattern designed for light intensification and for increasing the surface area, built on or out of the surface of the substrate;

a first electrode layer coating the substrate;

a first electric material of p or n type coating the first electrode;

a second electric material resting on the first electric material of type opposite the first electric material and of uniform thickness covering the first electrode;

a second electrode of uniform thickness covering the second electric material; and

a passivation material,

wherein the three-dimensional geometric-patterns have either vertically straight side or inclined side having an angle and they are positioned/arranged with or without fixed spaces and pitches.

14. The photovoltaic cell as in claim 13 further comprises nano-blocks grown on to the three-dimensional geometric pattern.

15. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 13 with the second electrode resting on top of the passivation layer instead of underneath it, and wherein the second electrode touch electrically the second electric material to have electrical conduction.

16. A photovoltaic cell as in claim 13 with the second electrode resting on top of a third electric material of type opposite the second electric material.

17. A photovoltaic cell comprising;

a substrate;

a nano-block placed or built out of the substrate;

a dielectric material covering the surface of the substrate but no the whole nano-block;

a first electrode;

a first electric material of p or n type built on the exposed nano-block;

a second electric material of type opposite the first electric material; and

a second electrode capping the nano-block,

wherein the blocks have either vertically straight side or inclined side having an angle and they are positioned/arranged with or without fixed spaces and pitches.

18. The substrate in claim 17 can be selected from a group of semiconductor, dielectric, or polymer.

19. The blocks in claim 17 can be either an integral part of the substrate or separately grown onto the substrate using a third material, wherein the third material can be semiconductor, dielectric, or metal.

20. A photovoltaic cell comprising;

a inert substrate;

a geometric pattern built out of or on top of the substrate designed to intensify the light that is incident the cell;

a first metallic layer made of copper;

a second metallic layer made of CuCNS;

a third metallic layer made of Cu₃[Co(CN)₆];

a electrolyte solution that covers the third metallic layer; and

a set of electrodes in the electrolyte solution,

wherein the geometric-pattern has either vertically straight side or inclined side having an angle and they are positioned/arranged with or without fixed spaces and pitches.