# US 10,873,045 B2 · High efficiency photovoltaic cells and manufacturing thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,045 B2 - Document ID: US10873045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/588,575 - Filed: 2017-05-05 - Published: 2017-10-19 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-29 - Assignees: Banpil Photonics, Inc. - Applicants: Achyut Kumar Dutta - Inventors: Achyut Kumar Dutta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873045B2 ## CPC - H10K 30/87: Light-trapping means - H10F 71/00: Manufacture or treatment of devices covered by this subclass (patterning processes to connect thin photovoltaic cells in integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/33; manufacture or treatment of encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/80; manufacture or treatment of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00) - H10F 77/148: {Shapes of potential barriers} - H10F 77/413: {directly associated or integrated with the devices, e.g. back reflectors (directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells H10F77/42)} - H10F 77/707: {of the substrates or of layers on substrates, e.g. textured ITO layer on a glass substrate} - H01G 9/2031: {comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 (H01G9/2036 takes precedence)} - Y02E 10/543: Solar cells from Group II-VI materials - Y02E 10/544: Solar cells from Group III-V materials - Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract This invention relates to a novel structure of photovoltaic devices (e.g. photovoltaic cells also called as solar cells) are provided. The cells are based on the micro or nano scaled structures which could not only increase the surface area but also have the capability of reducing the reflection and increasing the absorption of incident light. More specifically, the structures are based on 3D structure which are made of electric materials covering semiconductors, insulators, dielectric, polymer, and metallic type materials. By using such structures reflection loss of the light from the cell is significantly reduced, increasing the absorption, which results in increasing the conversion efficiency of the solar cell, and reducing the usage of material while increasing the flexibility of the solar cell. The structures can be also used in other optical devices wherein the reflection loss and absorption are required to enhance significantly improve the device performances. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photovoltaic cell comprising: a substrate of one material having a top surface and a bottom surface; an absorption layer; wherein said absorption layer comprises: at least one pn junction, wherein the at least one pn junction comprises at least one first electric material of p or n type, and; at least one second electric material of opposite type to the at least one first electric material; a pair of electrodes, and; an antireflective layer or an antireflective front sheet; wherein the antireflective layer or the antireflective front sheet comprises three-dimensional geometric pattern, wherein the three-dimensional geometric pattern comprising: an array of quintic, or quintic-like, or truncated quintic, or truncated quintic-like, or the combination thereof, shaped nano-scaled or micrometer-scaled protruding structures; wherein the top surface of the substrate is flat or shaped as a plurality of protruding substrate members, wherein the pair of electrodes electrically connects to the at least one pn junction, wherein the antireflecting layer or the antireflective front sheet is directly physically attached to one of the pair of electrodes, wherein the antiretlecting layer or the antireflective front sheet with or without filling up is exposed to direct incoming light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein each of the three-dimensional geometric pattern has a base, selected from a group consisting of elliptical parabolic, rectangular, triangular, circular, trapezoidal, hexagonal, elliptical, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional geometric patterns are arranged in a 2-dimensional array or in a 1-dimensional array. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, further comprises a reflective layer located on the front surface of the substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein another of the pair of electrodes is placed on the bottom surface of the substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein the antireflective layer or the antireflective front sheet can be made from a nonconductive or conductive material, and/or the one of the pair of electrodes is made from a transparent conductive material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional geometric patterns are inverted or standing form, and comprises of air or solid material. ### Claim 8 A photovoltaic cell comprising: a substrate of one material having a top surface and a bottom surface; an absorption layer; wherein said absorption layer comprises: at least one pn junction, wherein the at least one pn junction comprises at least one first electric material of p or n type, and; at least one second electric material of opposite type to the at least one first electric material; a pair of electrodes, and; an antireflective layer or an antireflective front sheet; wherein the antireflective layer or the antireflective front sheet comprises three-dimensional geometric pattern, wherein the three-dimensional geometric pattern comprising: an array of quintic, or quintic-like, or truncated quintic, or truncated quintic-like, or the combination thereof, shaped nano-scaled or micrometer-scaled protruding structures; a reflection layer or back sheet; wherein the top surface of the substrate is flat or shaped as a plurality of protruding substrate members, wherein the pair of electrodes electrically connects to the at least one pn junction, wherein the antireflecting layer or the antireflective front sheet is directly physically attached to one of the pair of electrodes, wherein the reflection layer or back sheet is located on the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the antireflecting layer or the antireflective front sheet with or without filling up is exposed to direct incoming light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein each of the three-dimensional geometric pattern has a base, selected from a group consisting of elliptical, parabolic, rectangular, triangular, circular, trapezoidal, hexagonal, elliptical, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional geometric patterns are arranged in a 2-dimensional array or in a 1-dimensional array, either periodically or randomly arranged. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic, cell of claim 8, further comprises additional absorption layer located after the reflective layer or back sheet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the reflection layer or back sheet further comprises a layer or a structure to reflect back all or a part of light coming out of the absorption layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the antireflective layer or the antireflective front sheet can be made from a nonconductive or conductive material, and/or the one of the pair of electrodes is made from a transparent conductive material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional geometric patterns are inverted or standing form, which further comprises of air or solid material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the reflection layer or back sheet comprises of grating or brag reflector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, further comprising a second absorption layer, wherein the second absorption layer is located in close proximity to the absorption layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The photovoltaic cell of claim 16, further comprising a reflection layer or back sheet, wherein the reflection layer or back sheet is located on one side of the absorption layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The photovoltaic cell of claim 17, wherein the reflection layer or back sheet comprises of grating or brag reflector.