# US 2014/0196784 A1 · High efficiency photovoltaic cells with self concentrating effect

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- Number: US 2014/0196784 A1
- Document ID: US20140196784A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/217,227
- Filed: 2014-03-17
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2007-09-22
- Assignees: Banpil Photonics, Inc.
- Applicants: Banpil Photonics, Inc.
- Inventors: ACHYUT KUMAR DUTTA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196784A1

## CPC

- H10F 77/70: Surface textures, e.g. pyramid structures
- H10F 77/123: comprising only Group II-VI materials, e.g. CdS, ZnS or HgCdTe
- H10F 77/147: {Shapes of bodies}
- H10F 77/148: {Shapes of potential barriers}
- H10F 77/488: {Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection}
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Novel structures of photonics devices (e.g. photovoltaic cells also called as solar cells) are provided. The Cells are based on the micro (or nano) structures which could not only increase the surface area but also have the capability of self-concentrating the light incident onto the photonics devices. Using of such structures, it is possible to achieve significant performance improvement. For example, if such structures are used in the photovoltaic cells, large power generation capability per unit physical area is possible over the conventional cells, and have enormous applications such as in space, in commercial, residential and industrial applications. Such structures are also beneficial to other photonics devices such as photodetector to enhance the performance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A photovoltaic cell surface geometry comprising:
an array of pyramidal, conical, truncated pyramidal, or truncated conical shaped nano-scaled or micrometer-scaled protruding structures separated by gaps,
wherein each protruding structure has tilted sides, a base, an internal angle alpha between the tilted sides and the base, and a height,
wherein the gaps separate the bases of the protruding structures,
wherein the bases of the protruding structures are oriented such that the bases of the protruding structures are coplanar or parallel,
wherein the internal angle alpha of each protruding structure is between 45 and 90 degrees, thereby concentrating some light incident on the tilted sides of each protruding structure onto the gaps between the protruding structures, and
wherein the height of each protruding structure, the internal angle alpha of each protruding structure, and the gaps between the protruding structures are oriented to reflect some light incident on the tilted sides of each protruding structure back and forth between the tilted sides of adjacent protruding structures.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic cell surface geometry of claim 1, further comprising a radiation tolerant layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic cell surface geometry of claim 1, wherein the protruding structures are electrically connected to a substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic cell surface geometry of claim 1, wherein the protruding structures are surrounded by an electrical material having metallic electrical conduction or semiconductor electrical conduction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The photovoltaic cell surface geometry of claim 4, wherein the electrical material is electrically connected to an electrode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The photovoltaic cell surface geometry of claim 4, wherein the electrical material has a top surface having electrical conduction using an electrolyte solution.

### Claim 7

A photovoltaic cell comprising:
a substrate;
a first electrode, overlying the substrate;
a first electrical material of p- or n-type, overlying the first electrode;
a second electrical material of type opposite to that of the first electrical material coating a three-dimensional geometric pattern, thereby providing a p-n junction along the interface between the first electrical material and the second electrical material that conforms to the contour of the three-dimensional geometric pattern; and
a second electrode, overlying the second electrical material,
wherein the three-dimensional geometric pattern is placed on the top surface of the first electrode or is etched out of the top surface of the substrate, the three-dimensional geometric pattern comprising
an array of pyramidal, conical, truncated pyramidal, or truncated conical shaped nano-scaled or micrometer-scaled protruding structures separated by gaps,
wherein each protruding structure has tilted sides, a base, an internal angle alpha between the tilted sides and the base, and a height,
wherein the gaps separate the bases of the protruding structures,
wherein the bases of the protruding structures are oriented such that the bases of the protruding structures are coplanar or parallel,
wherein the internal angle alpha of each protruding structure is between 45 and 90 degrees, thereby concentrating some light incident on the tilted sides of each protruding structure onto the gaps between the protruding structures, and
wherein the height of each protruding structure, the internal angle alpha of each protruding structure, and the gaps between the protruding structures are oriented to reflect some light incident on the tilted sides of each protruding structure back and forth between the tilted sides of adjacent protruding structures.

### Claim 8 (depends on 8)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, further comprising a passivation material that fills the voids between the geometric pattern of the top surface of the second electrical material and levels the top surface of the second electrical material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 9)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 9, further comprising a radiation tolerant layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the substrate and the first electrode are a single metallic unit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the substrate is dielectric.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the substrate is electrical material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the protruding structures are electrically connected to a substrate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 8, wherein the protruding structures are surrounded by an electrical material having metallic electrical conduction or semiconductor electrical conduction.

### Claim 15 (depends on 15, 20)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 15 claim 20, wherein the electrical material is electrically connected to an electrode.

### Claim 16

A photovoltaic cell comprising:
an inert substrate;
a three-dimensional geometric pattern etched out of or on top of the substrate designed to intensify the light that is incident the cell, comprising
an array of pyramidal, conical, truncated pyramidal, or truncated conical shaped nano-scaled or micrometer-scaled protruding structures separated by gaps,
wherein each protruding structure has tilted sides, a base, an internal angle alpha between the tilted sides and the base, and a height,
wherein the gaps separate the bases of the protruding structures,
wherein the bases of the protruding structures are oriented such that the bases of the protruding structures are coplanar or parallel, and
wherein the height of each protruding structure, the internal angle alpha of each protruding structure, and the gaps between the protruding structures are rated to reflect some light incident on the tilted sides of each protruding structure back and forth between the tilted sides of adjacent protruding structures;
a first metallic layer;
a first electrically conductive layer made of CuCNS;
a second electrically conductive layer made of Cu3[Co(CN)6];
an electrolyte solution that covers the second electrically conductive layer; and
an electrode in the electrolyte solution,
wherein the geometric pattern has either vertically straight side or inclined side having an angle and they are positioned with or without fixed spaces and pitches.

### Claim 17 (depends on 17)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 17, further comprising a radiation tolerant layer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 17, wherein the protruding structures are electrically connected to a substrate.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 17, wherein the protruding structures are surrounded by an electrical material having metallic electrical conduction or semiconductor electrical conduction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 20)

The photovoltaic cell of claim 20, wherein the electrical material is electrically connected to an electrode.