摘要:
A solar cell structure (1) and a method of its fabrication, the structure comprising an array of elongated nanowires (2) made in a semiconductor material having a direct band gap. Each nanowire (2) has at least a first (3) and a second (4) sections. Said structure comprises a first electrode layer (7) realizing ohmic contact to at least one portion of each first section (3), a second, optically transparent electrode layer (8) realizing contact to at least one portion of each second section. Each nanowire (2) comprises a minority carrier barrier element (6) for minimizing recombination of minority carriers at the contact to the second electrode layer (8).
摘要:
The present application utilizes an oxidation process to fabricating a Group III-V compound semiconductor solar cell device. By the oxidation process, a window layer disposed on a cell unit is oxidized to enhance the efficiency of the solar cell device. The oxidized window has an increased band gap to minimize the surface recombination of electrons and holes. The oxidized window also improves transparency at the wavelengths that were absorbed in the conventional window layer.
摘要:
Designs of extremely high efficiency solar cells are described. A novel alternating bias scheme enhances the photovoltaic power extraction capability above the cell band-gap by enabling the extraction of hot carriers. When applied in conventional solar cells, this alternating bias scheme has the potential of more than doubling their yielded net efficiency. When applied in conjunction with solar cells incorporating quantum wells (QWs) or quantum dots (QDs) based solar cells, the described alternating bias scheme has the potential of extending such solar cell power extraction coverage, possibly across the entire solar spectrum, thus enabling unprecedented solar power extraction efficiency. Within such cells, a novel alternating bias scheme extends the cell energy conversion capability above the cell material band-gap while the quantum confinement structures are used to extend the cell energy conversion capability below the cell band-gap. Light confinement cavities are incorporated into the cell structure in order to allow the absorption of the cell internal photo emission, thus further enhancing the cell efficiency.
摘要:
Embodiments generally relate to optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, a method for forming a device includes forming an absorber layer made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and having one type of doping, and forming an emitter layer made of a different material and having a higher bandgap than the absorber layer. An intermediate layer can be formed between emitter and absorber layers. A heterojunction and p-n junction are formed between the emitter layer and the absorber layer, where the p-n junction is formed at least partially within the different material at a location offset from the heterojunction. A majority of the absorber layer can be outside of a depletion region formed by the p-n junction. The p-n junction causes a voltage to be generated in the cell in response to the cell being exposed to light at a front side.
摘要:
In a solar cell having one or more subcells, at least one subcell is provided with a reverse heterojunction, the reverse heterojunction being formed with an emitter and an adjacent base, wherein the emitter has a band gap that is at least 10 meV lower than that of the adjacent base in order to reduce sheet resistance of the emitter and/or increase the subcell current with minimal effect on the open-circuit voltage. Because of the increase in current, the decrease in emitter sheet resistance, and relatively unchanged open-circuit voltage of the subcell, the efficiency of a solar cell employing one or more subcells with reverse heterojunctions is enhanced.
摘要:
An nitride semiconductor device for the improvement of lower operational voltage or increased emitting output, comprises an active layer comprising quantum well layer or layers and barrier layer or layers between n-type nitride. semiconductor layers and p-type nitride semiconductor layers, wherein said quantum layer in said active layer comprises InxGa1−xN (0
摘要翻译:用于改善较低工作电压或增加发射输出的氮化物半导体器件包括有源层,其包括量子阱层或n型氮化物之间的层和阻挡层。 半导体层和p型氮化物半导体层,其中所述有源层中的所述量子层包括峰值波长为450至540nm的In x Ga 1-x N(0
摘要:
Designs of extremely high efficiency solar cells are described. A novel alternating bias scheme enhances the photovoltaic power extraction capability above the cell band-gap by enabling the extraction of hot carriers. When applied in conventional solar cells, this alternating bias scheme has the potential of more than doubling their yielded net efficiency. When applied in conjunction with solar cells incorporating quantum wells (QWs) or quantum dots (QDs) based solar cells, the described alternating bias scheme has the potential of extending such solar cell power extraction coverage, possibly across the entire solar spectrum, thus enabling unprecedented solar power extraction efficiency. Within such cells, a novel alternating bias scheme extends the cell energy conversion capability above the cell material band-gap while the quantum confinement structures are used to extend the cell energy conversion capability below the cell band-gap. Light confinement cavities are incorporated into the cell structure in order to allow the absorption of the cell internal photo emission, thus further enhancing the cell efficiency.
摘要:
An alloy composition for a subcell of a solar cell is provided that has a bandgap of at least 0.9 eV, namely, Ga1-xInxNyAs1-y-zSbz with a low antimony (Sb) content and with enhanced indium (In) content and enhanced nitrogen (N) content, achieving substantial lattice matching to GaAs and Ge substrates and providing both high short circuit currents and high open circuit voltages in GaInNAsSb subcells for multijunction solar cells. The composition ranges for Ga1-xInxNyAs1-y-zSbz are 0.07≦x≦0.18, 0.025≦y≦0.04 and 0.001≦z≦0.03.
摘要:
Embodiments generally relate to optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, a method for forming a device includes forming an absorber layer made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and having one type of doping, and forming an emitter layer made of a different material and having a higher bandgap than the absorber layer. An intermediate layer can be formed between emitter and absorber layers. A heterojunction and p-n junction are formed between the emitter layer and the absorber layer, where the p-n junction is formed at least partially within the different material at a location offset from the heterojunction. A majority of the absorber layer can be outside of a depletion region formed by the p-n junction. The p-n junction causes a voltage to be generated in the cell in response to the cell being exposed to light at a front side.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention are provided for a thin film stack containing a plurality of epitaxial stacks disposed on a substrate and a method for forming such a thin film stack. In one embodiment, the epitaxial stack contains a first sacrificial layer disposed over the substrate, a first epitaxial film disposed over the first sacrificial layer, a second sacrificial layer disposed over the first epitaxial film, and a second epitaxial film disposed over the second sacrificial layer. The thin film stack may further contain additional epitaxial films disposed over sacrificial layers. Generally, the epitaxial films contain gallium arsenide alloys and the sacrificial layers contain aluminum arsenide alloys. Methods provide the removal of the epitaxial films from the substrate by etching away the sacrificial layers during an epitaxial lift off (ELO) process. The epitaxial films are useful as photovoltaic cells, laser diodes, or other devices or materials.