Method for fabricating a photosensitive device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9923106-B2
Application number	US-201414892708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2014
Priority date	May 22, 2013
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A method for fabricating a photosensitive device, comprising: a first step of preparing, on a substrate, at least a first photosensitive portion, active within a range of wavelengths, the first portion being surrounded by a second portion that is inactive. A material, covering the first portion, is selectively arranged into a hydrophilic layer by an electrochemical process. The second portion comprises a hydrophobic material on an upper surface opposite the substrate. The method further comprises the following steps: spraying on the upper surfaces of the first and second portions a liquid comprising a transparent material, and forming a converging lens containing the material, above the first portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for fabricating a photosensitive device, comprising:
preparing, on a substrate, at least a photosensitive first portion that is active within a range of wavelengths and has electrical conduction properties, said first portion being surrounded by a second portion that is inactive and electrically insulating,
selectively arranging a material, covering an upper surface of the first portion opposite the substrate, into a hydrophilic layer directly above the first active portion by an electrochemical process, while the second portion comprises a hydrophobic material on an upper surface opposite the substrate,
the method further comprising:
spraying, over the entire upper surfaces of said first and second portions, a liquid solution comprising a material that is transparent within said range of wavelengths,
forming a converging lens comprising said material, over said first portion, and
treating the upper surface of the first active portion by exposing said upper surface to ultraviolet radiation prior to spraying a liquid solution.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid solution comprises a hardening material.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the hardening material is a monomer.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising hardening the liquid solution to form a converging lens above the first portion.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising hardening the liquid solution by exposing the upper surface of the first portion to ultraviolet radiation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing at least a photosensitive first portion comprises preparing, on a substrate, an array of first portions that are active within a range of wavelengths, said first portions being separated from each other by a second inactive portion.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein preparing at least a photosensitive first portion comprises a selective deposition of first portions on a substrate comprising the second portion.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selectively depositing a material having hydrophilic properties on the upper surface opposite the substrate of the first portion.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rendering the upper surface of the first portion opposite the substrate hydrophilic after treatment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic material is a wide-bandgap oxide.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the hydrophilic material from among the group consisting of ZnO, doped ZnO, and TiO 2 .

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the first active portion by applying an electric potential prior to spraying a liquid solution.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after preparing at least a photosensitive first portion and prior to spraying a liquid solution:
depositing, on part of the upper surface of the second portion, a hydrophilic metal layer in contact with the first portion.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, active, portion is a light absorber of a photosensitive cell.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second, inactive, portion is an electrical insulator.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising depositing, on the lens, a coating of a material that is transparent within the range of wavelengths.

17. A photosensitive device comprising, on a substrate:
at least a first photosensitive portion which is active within a range of wavelengths and has electrical conduction properties,
a second inactive portion that is electrically insulating, surrounding said first portion,
wherein said first portion comprises a material selectively arranged into a hydrophilic layer directly above the first active portion by an electrochemical process on an upper surface opposite the substrate, while the upper surface opposite the substrate of said second portion comprises a hydrophobic material,
wherein a converging lens is formed on the upper surface of the hydrophilic material, and wherein a hydrophilic metal layer in contact with the first portion is arranged on part of the upper surface of the second portion.

18. A method for fabricating a photosensitive device, comprising:
preparing, on a substrate, at least a photosensitive first portion that is active within a range of wavelengths and has electrical conduction properties, said first portion being surrounded by a second portion that is inactive and electrically insulating,

selectively arranging a material, covering an upper surface of the first portion opposite the substrate, into a hydrophilic layer directly above the first active portion by an electrochemical process, while the second portion comprises a hydrophobic material on an upper surface opposite the substrate, the method further comprising:
spraying, over the entire upper surfaces of said first and second portions, a liquid solution comprising a material that is transparent within said range of wavelengths, and
forming a converging lens comprising said material, over said first portion,

treating the first active portion by applying an electric potential prior to spraying a liquid solution.

Assignees

• Electricite De France
• Centre National De La Rech Scientifique—Cnrs—

Inventors

• Paire Myriam
• Guillemoles Jean-Francois
• Lombez Laurent
• Lincot Daniel
• Collin Stephane
• Pelouard Jean-Luc

Classifications

• H01L31/02327 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L31/02161

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L31/02168

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L31/18

  Electricity · mapped topic

• Y02E10/52

  PV systems with concentrators · CPC title