# US 2002/0157702 A1 · Paint solar cell and its fabrication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2002/0157702 A1 - Document ID: US20020157702A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 09/844,405 - Filed: 2001-04-27 - Published: 2002-10-31 - Earliest claimed: 2001-04-27 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Inventors: James F. Cordaro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20020157702A1 ## CPC - 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 77/1698: {the metallic or insulating substrates being flexible} - H02S 40/38: Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules - H10F 10/167: comprising Group I-III-VI materials, e.g. CdS/CuInSe2 [CIS] heterojunction photovoltaic cells - H10F 77/162: Non-monocrystalline materials, e.g. semiconductor particles embedded in insulating materials (H10F77/169 takes precedence) - H10F 77/1699: {the films including Group I-III-VI materials, e.g. CIS or CIGS on metal foils or polymer foils} - H10F 77/147: {Shapes of bodies} - Y02E 10/541: CuInSe2 material PV cells - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - 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 A solar cell has an active structure including a paint voltage source having a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in a first-layer binder, and a second paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in a second-layer binder. The second paint layer structure is in electrical contact with the first paint layer structure. The active structure further includes an electrically conductive contact structure having a first electrically conductive contact to the first paint layer structure, and a second electrically conductive contact to the second paint layer structure. At least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough to the paint voltage source. A capacitive paint layer may be included to store electrical charge produced by the active structure. The active structure may be affixed to a support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar cell comprising an active structure including: a voltage source having a p-type semiconductor layer structure and an n-type semiconductor layer structure in electrical contact with each other, at least one of the semiconductor layer structures being a paint layer structure comprising first-layer paint pigment particles dispersed in a first-layer binder, the first-layer paint pigment particles being selected from the group consisting of p-type pigment particles and n-type pigment particles; and an electrically conductive contact structure having a first electrically conductive contact to a first one of the semiconductor layer structures, and a second electrically conductive contact to a second one of the semiconductor layer structures, at least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permitting light to pass therethrough to the voltage source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in the first-layer binder, and a second paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in a second-layer binder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in the first-layer binder, and a second structure comprising an n-type semiconductor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises a first paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in the first-layer binder, and a second paint layer structure comprising a p-type semiconductor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The solar cell of claim 1, further including a support to which the active structure is attached. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including a capacitor in electrical communication with the second electrically conductive contact, the capacitor comprising a capacitive paint layer structure comprising pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles dispersed in a capacitive layer binder, a first side of the capacitive paint layer structure contacting the second electrically conductive contact, and a capacitor electrically conductive contact in electrical communication with a second side of the capacitive paint layer structure remote from the first side. ### Claim 7 A solar cell comprising an active structure including: a paint voltage source having a first paint layer structure comprising p-type pigment particles dispersed in a first-layer binder, and a second paint layer structure comprising n-type pigment particles dispersed in a second-layer binder, the second paint layer structure being in electrical contact with the first paint layer structure; and an electrically conductive contact structure having a first electrically conductive contact to the first paint layer structure, and a second electrically conductive contact to the second paint layer structure, at least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permitting light to pass therethrough to the paint voltage source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, further including a support to which the active structure is attached. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The solar cell of claim 8, wherein the support is flexible. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The solar cell of claim 8, wherein the support is flat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The solar cell of claim 8, wherein the support is curved. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first-layer binder and the second-layer binder is an organic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first-layer binder and the second-layer binder is an inorganic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first paint layer structure and the second paint layer structure comprises a filler particle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the first electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including a capacitor in electrical communication with the second electrically conductive contact. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the first electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including a capacitor in electrical communication with the second electrically conductive contact, the capacitor comprising a capacitive paint layer structure comprising pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles dispersed in a capacitive layer binder, a first side of the capacitive paint layer structure contacting the second electrically conductive contact, and a capacitor electrically conductive contact in electrical communication with a second side of the capacitive paint layer structure remote from the first side of the capacitive paint layer structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the second electrically conductive contact permits light to pass therethrough, and further including a capacitor in electrical communication with the first electrically conductive contact, the capacitor comprising a capacitive paint layer structure comprising pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles dispersed in a capacitive layer binder, a first side of the capacitive paint layer structure contacting the first electrically conductive contact, and a capacitor electrically conductive contact in electrical communication with a second side of the capacitive paint layer structure remote from the first side of the capacitive paint layer structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the first electrically conductive contact contacts the first paint layer structure and allows light to pass therethrough, and the first paint layer structure is black in color. ### Claim 19 A method for preparing a solar cell, comprising the steps of preparing a liquid first paint comprising p-type pigment particles, a first-paint binder, and a first paint liquid vehicle; preparing a liquid second paint comprising n-type pigment particles, a second-paint binder, and a second paint liquid vehicle; and fabricating the solar cell by applying a first layer of the liquid first paint and at least partially drying the liquid first paint by removing the first paint liquid vehicle, to leave a solid first paint layer structure comprising the p-type pigment particles and the first-paint binder, applying a second layer of the liquid second paint and drying the liquid second paint by removing the second paint liquid vehicle, to leave a solid second paint layer structure comprising the n-type pigment particles and the second-paint binder, the second layer being in facing contact with the first layer, and forming a first electrically conductive contact to the solid first paint layer structure and a second electrically conductive contact to the solid second paint layer structure, at least one of the first electrically conductive contact and the second electrically conductive contact permitting light to pass therethrough.