公开(公告)号：US20190148574A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US16192704

申请日：2018-11-15

Applicant: California Institute of Technology

Inventor： Rebecca Saive ,  Harry A. Atwater ,  Sophia Coplin ,  Michael Kelzenberg ,  Sisir Yalamanchili ,  Colton Bukowsky ,  Thomas Russell

IPC: H01L31/0224 ,  H01L31/0216 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0236

Abstract: Superstrates containing ETCs in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can be implemented to reduce optical losses by decreasing the thickness of the TCO and by reducing or eliminating shading losses of metal grid fingers. ETC superstrates can include a transparent material with grooves, which can be infilled with reflective, conductive material(s) such as but not limited to silver and aluminum. In further embodiments, the grooves are triangular-shaped. ETC superstrates can enable a significant reduction in the TCO thickness required for current extraction with a high fill factor. By reducing the thickness of the TCO layer in solar cells, the short circuit current density can be enhanced by more than 1 mA/cm2 due to decreased parasitic absorption and optimized antireflection properties.

公开(公告)号：US20160322514A1

公开(公告)日：2016-11-03

申请号：US15144807

申请日：2016-05-02

Applicant: California Institute of Technology

Inventor： Harry A. Atwater ,  Rebecca Saive ,  Aleca M. Borsuk ,  Hal Emmer ,  Colton Bukowsky ,  Sisir Yalamanchili

IPC: H01L31/02 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0232

CPC classification number: H01L31/022425 ,  H01L31/043 ,  H01L31/0547 ,  H01L31/0747 ,  Y02E10/52

Abstract: Solar cells in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention incorporate effectively transparent 3D contacts that redirect light incident on the contacts onto the photoabsorbing surfaces of the solar cells. One embodiment includes a photoabsorbing surface and a plurality of three-dimensional contacts formed on the photoabsorbing surface. The plurality of three-dimensional contacts are spaced apart so that radiation is incident on a portion of the photoabsorbing surface. In addition, the three-dimensional contacts include at least one surface that redirects radiation incident on the three-dimensional contacts onto the photoabsorbing surface. Processes for manufacturing solar cells in accordance with many embodiments of the invention include: fabricating prototype three-dimensional contacts; forming a master structure for use in a gravure printing process using the prototype three-dimensional contacts; and forming three-dimensional contacts using a printing material formed on a substrate material using the master structure in a gravure printing process.

Abstract translation: 根据本发明的多个实施例的太阳能电池将有效透明的3D触点引入，该触点将入射到触点上的光重定向到太阳能电池的光吸收表面上。 一个实施例包括光吸收表面和形成在光吸收表面上的多个三维触点。 多个三维触点间隔开，使得辐射入射到光吸收表面的一部分上。 此外，三维触点包括将入射到三维触点上的辐射重定向到光吸收表面的至少一个表面。 根据本发明的许多实施例的用于制造太阳能电池的方法包括：制造原型三维接触; 形成用于使用原型三维触点的凹版印刷工艺中的主结构; 以及使用在凹版印刷工艺中使用主结构的在基材上形成的印刷材料形成三维接触。

公开(公告)号：US10700234B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-30

申请号：US15999264

申请日：2018-08-17

Applicant: California Institute of Technology

Inventor： Rebecca Saive ,  Harry A. Atwater ,  Sisir Yalamanchili ,  Colton Bukowsky ,  Thomas Russell

IPC: H01L21/00 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0224

Abstract: In conventional solar cells with metal contacts, a non-negligible fraction of the incoming solar power is immediately lost either through absorption or reflection upon interaction with the contacts. Effectively transparent contacts (“ETCs”) for solar cells can be referred to as three-dimensional contacts designed to redirect incoming light onto a photoabsorbing surface of a solar cell. In many embodiments, the ETCs have triangular cross-sections. Such ETCs can be placed on a photoabsorbing surface such that at least one of their sides forms an angle with the photoabsorbing surface. In this configuration, the ETCs can redirect incident light onto the photoabsorbing surface, mitigating or eliminating reflection loss compared to conventional solar cells. When constructed in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention, ETCs can be effectively transparent and highly conductive.

公开(公告)号：US20200152821A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-14

申请号：US16745233

申请日：2020-01-16

Applicant: California Institute of Technology

Inventor： Rebecca Saive ,  Harry A. Atwater ,  Sisir Yalamanchili ,  Colton Bukowsky ,  Thomas Russell

IPC: H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0224

Abstract: In conventional solar cells with metal contacts, a non-negligible fraction of the incoming solar power is immediately lost either through absorption or reflection upon interaction with the contacts. Effectively transparent contacts (“ETCs”) for solar cells can be referred to as three-dimensional contacts designed to redirect incoming light onto a photoabsorbing surface of a solar cell. In many embodiments, the ETCs have triangular cross-sections. Such ETCs can be placed on a photoabsorbing surface such that at least one of their sides forms an angle with the photoabsorbing surface. In this configuration, the ETCs can redirect incident light onto the photoabsorbing surface, mitigating or eliminating reflection loss compared to conventional solar cells. When constructed in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention, ETCs can be effectively transparent and highly conductive.

公开(公告)号：US20190074401A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-07

申请号：US15999264

申请日：2018-08-17

Applicant: California Institute of Technology

Inventor： Rebecca Saive ,  Harry A. Atwater ,  Sisir Yalamanchili ,  Colton Bukowsky ,  Thomas Russell

IPC: H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0224

Abstract: In conventional solar cells with metal contacts, a non-negligible fraction of the incoming solar power is immediately lost either through absorption or reflection upon interaction with the contacts. Effectively transparent contacts (“ETCs”) for solar cells can be referred to as three-dimensional contacts designed to redirect incoming light onto a photoabsorbing surface of a solar cell. In many embodiments, the ETCs have triangular cross-sections. Such ETCs can be placed on a photoabsorbing surface such that at least one of their sides forms an angle with the photoabsorbing surface. In this configuration, the ETCs can redirect incident light onto the photoabsorbing surface, mitigating or eliminating reflection loss compared to conventional solar cells. When constructed in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention, ETCs can be effectively transparent and highly conductive.

公开(公告)号：US09825193B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-21

申请号：US14875605

申请日：2015-10-05

Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Inventor： Harry A. Atwater ,  Dennis Callahan ,  Colton Bukowsky

IPC: H01L31/0216 ,  H01L31/0236 ,  H01L31/0392 ,  H01L31/054 ,  H01L31/0749 ,  H01L31/056

CPC classification number: H01L31/03923 ,  H01L31/02167 ,  H01L31/02363 ,  H01L31/02366 ,  H01L31/054 ,  H01L31/056 ,  H01L31/0749 ,  Y02E10/52 ,  Y02E10/541

Abstract: Photovoltaic structures are disclosed. The structures can comprise randomly or periodically structured layers, a dielectric layer to reduce back diffusion of charge carriers, and a metallic layer to reflect photons back towards the absorbing semiconductor layers. This design can increase efficiency of photovoltaic structures. The structures can be fabricated by nanoimprint.

公开(公告)号：US11227964B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-18

申请号：US16113844

申请日：2018-08-27

Applicant: California Institute of Technology ,  The Regents of the University of California ,  The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Inventor： David R. Needell ,  Noah Bronstein ,  Armand P. Alivisatos ,  Harry A. Atwater ,  Ralph Nuzzo ,  Haley Bauser ,  Ognjen Ilic ,  Junwen He ,  Lu Xu ,  Colton Bukowsky ,  Sunita Darbe ,  Zach Nett ,  Brent Koscher

IPC: H01L31/055 ,  H01L31/0693 ,  H01L31/068 ,  H01L31/0216 ,  H01L31/048 ,  H01L31/054 ,  H01L31/056

Abstract: Luminescent solar concentrators in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can be designed to minimize photon thermalization losses and incomplete light trapping using various components and techniques. Cadmium selenide core, cadmium sulfide shell (CdSe/CdS) quantum dot (“QD”) technology can be implemented in such devices to allow for near-unity QDs and sufficiently large Stokes shifts. Many embodiments of the invention include a luminescent solar concentrator that incorporates CdSe/CdS quantum dot luminophores. In further embodiments, anisotropic luminophore emission can be implemented through metasurface/plasmonic antenna coupling. In several embodiments, red-shifted luminophores are implemented. Additionally, top and bottom spectrally-selective filters, such as but not limited to selectively-reflective metasurface mirrors and polymeric stack filters, can be implemented to enhance the photon collection efficiency. In some embodiments, luminescent solar concentrator component is optically connected in tandem with a planar Si subcell, forming a micro-optical tandem luminescent solar concentrator.

公开(公告)号：US20190326460A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-24

申请号：US16390789

申请日：2019-04-22

Applicant: California Institute of Technology ,  The Regents of the University of California ,  The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Inventor： David R. Needell ,  Haley Bauser ,  Harry A. Atwater ,  Armand P. Alivisatos ,  Ralph Nuzzo ,  Ognjen Ilic ,  Colton Bukowsky ,  Brent A. Koscher ,  Megan Phelan

IPC: H01L31/055 ,  H01L31/054 ,  H01L31/0475 ,  H01L31/0216

Abstract: Luminescent solar concentrators having a grid-based PV design can be implemented in many different ways. In several embodiments, the LSC is implemented using infrared luminophore technology combined with a PV design implementing a grid of PV cells. LSCs can incorporate quantum dots that absorb uniformly across the visible spectrum and photoluminesce down-shifted energy light in the infrared wavelength regime. Some embodiments include PV cells utilizing micro-grid structures that can be implemented for scalable and controllably transparent applications, such as but not limited to power windows targeted for building integrated photovoltaic applications. In a number of embodiments, the LSCs can utilize a unique PV cell form factor and spectral filter coatings to increase the thermal insulation of the window and enhance photocurrent capture by a silicon micro-grid.