Photovoltaic device based on conformal coating of columnar structures
AssigneesThe Governors of the University of Alberta, National Research Council of Canada
InventorsMichael Julian Brett, Jillian M. Buriak, Michael D. Fleischauer, Nathan J. Gerein, Kenneth D. Harris, Sean A. McClure, David A. Rider
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Abstract
A photovoltaic device, comprises a first electrode, an electron donor layer in electrical contact with the first electrode, an electron acceptor layer in contact with the electron donor layer across an interface having a shape defined by a columnar structure grown by oblique angle deposition, and a second electrode in electrical contact with the electron acceptor layer.
Claims31
A photovoltaic device, comprising:
- a first electrode;
- an electron donor layer in electrical contact with the first electrode;
- an electron acceptor layer in contact with the electron donor layer across an interface having a shape defined by a columnar structure grown by oblique angle deposition;
- and
- a second electrode in electrical contact with the electron acceptor layer.
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a first electrode;
- an electron donor layer in electrical contact with the first electrode;
- an electron acceptor layer in contact with the electron donor layer across an interface having a shape defined by a columnar microstructure, the columnar microstructure comprising columns coated with one or more conformal coatings;
- and
- a second electrode in electrical contact with the electron acceptor layer;
- wherein the columns comprise two or more materials in distinct regions.
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a first electrode;
- an electron donor layer in electrical contact with the first electrode;
- an electron acceptor layer in contact with the electron donor layer across an interface having a shape defined by a columnar microstructure;
- a second electrode in electrical contact with the electron acceptor layer;
- and
- a graded density interfacial layer between the columnar microstructure and one or more substrates, the graded density interfacial layer forming an array of tapered bases for columns of the columnar microstructure.
A method of making a photovoltaic device comprising:
- providing a substrate;
- growing a columnar structure on the substrate using oblique angle deposition;
- and
- coating the columnar structure with one or more conformal coatings;
- in which the columnar structure defines the shape of an interface between an electron acceptor layer in contact with an electron donor layer across the interface, the electron donor layer being in electrical contact with a first electrode and the electron acceptor layer being in electrical contact with a second electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.