Nano-scale light intensity concentration control
OwnerStephen J. Fonashinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photovoltaic or light detecting device is provided that includes a periodic array of dome or dome-like protrusions at the light impingement surface and three forms of reflector/back electrode at the device back. The beneficial interaction between an appropriately designed top protrusion array and these reflector/electrode back contacts (R/EBCs) serve (1) to refract the incoming light thereby providing photons with an advantageous larger momentum component parallel to the plane of the back (R/EBC) contact and (2) to provide optical impedance matching for the short wavelength incoming light. The reflector/back electrode operates as a back light reflector and counter electrode to the periodic array of dome or dome-like structures. A substrate supports the reflector/back electrode.
Claims21
A photovoltaic or light detecting device comprising:
- an array of dome or dome-like protrusions facing an incoming impinging light, each dome or dome-like protrusion having at its front surface a dome or dome-like electrode portion only covering a portion of a front surface of the photovoltaic or light detecting device;
- each of said dome or dome-like electrode portion overlying a protrusion active region in each said dome or dome-like protrusion;
- each of said dome or dome-like protrusions positioned on a planar region and arranged in a repetitive array;
- a counter electrode behind said planar region and opposing the incoming impinging light;
- wherein each of said protrusion active region is positioned between said dome or dome-like electrode portion and said counter electrode for the each of said protrusion active regions;
- wherein each of said protrusion active regions comprises at least one absorber material and at least one junction or contact forming material;
- wherein said protrusion active region has at least one selective contact or Ohmic contact forming material region at the dome or dome-like electrode portion interfacing with the protrusion active region to enable carrier collection;
- said array of dome or dome-like protrusions and said planar region controlling impinging wavelengths of light at between 350 nm and 1050 nm, the positioning of the incoming light and therefore the positioning of photogeneration concentration, carrier collection, and absorptance response in said device protrusion and planar regions;
- and
- said array of dome or dome-like protrusions in a periodic hexagonal array of spacing L which is equal to or greater than D, the diameter of each of said dome or dome-like protrusions.
A photovoltaic or light detecting device comprising:
- an array of dome or dome-like protrusions facing an incoming impinging light, each dome or dome-like protrusion being centered on a nanoelement positioned on and extending from a back layer, each of said dome or dome-like protrusions having at its front surface a dome or dome-like shaped electrode portion only covering a portion of a front surface of the photovoltaic or light detecting device;
- said each dome or dome-like shaped electrode portion overlying an active region in each of the dome or dome-like protrusion;
- wherein said dome or dome-like protrusions are positioned on a planar region and are arranged in a repetitive array;
- a counter electrode behind said planar region and opposing the incoming impinging light;
- wherein each said protrusion active region and planar region is positioned between each said dome or dome-like shaped electrode portion and said counter electrode;
- wherein each of said protrusion active region and planar region comprises at least one absorber material and at least one junction or contact forming material;
- wherein said protrusion active region has at least one selective contact or Ohmic contact forming material region at the dome or dome-like shaped electrode portion interface with said protrusion active region to enable carrier collection;
- and
- said array of dome or dome-like protrusions, dome or dome-like protrusion centering nanoelements, and said planar region controlling impinging for wavelengths of light at between 350 nm and 1050 nm, the positioning of incoming light and therefore positioning of photogeneration concentration, carrier collection regions and absorptance in the protrusion and planar regions;
- and
- said array of dome or dome-like protrusions in a periodic hexagonal array of spacing L which is equal to or greater than D, the diameter of each of said dome or dome-like protrusions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.