Photovoltaic devices including nitrogen-containing metal contact
US-2015380601-A1 · Dec 31, 2015 · US
Structures and methods for high-efficiency pyramidal three-dimensional solar cells
US8937243B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-8937243-B2 |
| Application number | US-61538309-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | Oct 9, 2006 |
| Publication date | Jan 20, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 2015 |
How to read this patent
A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.
- Title
What the patent document calls the invention.
- Abstract
A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.
- Assignees and inventors
Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.
- Key dates
Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.
- First independent claim
The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.
- CPC / IPC classifications
Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.
- Citations and related patents
Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.
Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
The present disclosure enables high-volume cost effective production of three-dimensional thin film solar cell (3-D TFSC) substrates. First, the present disclosure discloses pyramid-like unit cell structure 16 and 50 which enable epitaxial growth through their open pyramidal structure. The present disclosure than gives four 3-D TFSC embodiments 70, 82, 100 , and 110 which may combined as necessary. A basic 3-D TFSC having a substrate, emitter, oxidation on the emitter, front and back metal contacts allows simple processing. Other embodiments disclose a selective emitter, selective backside metal contact, and front-side SiN ARC layers. Several processing methods including process flows 150, 200, 250, 300 , and 350 enable production of these 3-D TFSC. Further, the present disclosure enables higher throughput through the use of dual sided template 400 . By processing the substrate in the template, the present disclosure increases yield and reduces processing steps.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A pyramidal three-dimensional thin film solar cell (3-D TFSC) having enhanced processing properties, comprising: a p-type epitaxial 3-D TFSC substrate comprising a plurality of pyramidal unit cells, wherein said unit cells comprise: tapered sidewalls having different crystallographic planes including the <111> plane, said tapered sidewalls forming an open pyramid-like structure; a substantially flat top-ridge having a crystallographic <100> plane, said to…
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Electricity · mapped topic
Electricity · mapped topic
Electricity · mapped topic
Electricity · mapped topic
Electricity · mapped topic
Patent family
Related publications grouped by family.
External sources
Next steps
Free tools are coming soon. Tell us what you want to track and we'll notify you.
Frequently asked questions
Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.
- What does patent US8937243B2 cover?
- The present disclosure enables high-volume cost effective production of three-dimensional thin film solar cell (3-D TFSC) substrates. First, the present disclosure discloses pyramid-like unit cell structure 16 and 50 which enable epitaxial growth through their open pyramidal structure. The present disclosure than gives four 3-D TFSC embodiments 70, 82, 100 , and 110 which may combined as…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Kapur Pawan, Moslehi Mehrdad M, Solexel Inc
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification H10F77/211. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Jan 20 2015 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 8 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).