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US 4,536,607 AGranted
Photovoltaic tandem cell
OwnerHarold J. Wiesmanninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photovoltaic tandem cell comprises an amorphous cell and a polycrystalline heterojunction cell. The cells are in optical series and separated by a transparent contact layer.
Claims38
A photovoltaic tandem cell wherein the cells are electrically in series with each other comprising, from top to bottom:
- an electrically conducting superstrate;
- a first cell comprising layers (a), (b), and (c), wherein:
- (a) is a first doped amorphous semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type underlying and in contact with said superstrate,
- (b) is an intrinsic amorphous semiconductor layer underlying said first doped layer, and
- (c) is a second doped amorphous semiconductor layer of said second conductivity type underlying said intrinsic layer;
- a non-opaque, high conductivity layer underlying and in contact with said second doped amorphous semiconductor layer;
- a second cell underlying and in contact with said non-opaque, high conductivity layer, comprising layers (d) and (e), wherein:
- (d) is a first polycrystalline semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type underlying and in contact with said non-opaque high conductivity layer, and
- (e) is a second polycrystalline semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type underlying said first polycrystalline layer and forming a p-n heterojunction therewith;
- and
- an electrical contact layer underlying and in contact with said second polycrystalline semiconductor layer.
8 more elements
A photovoltaic tandem cell wherein the cells are electrically in series with each other comprising, from bottom to top:
- an electrically conducting substrate;
- a polycrystalline heterojunction cell comprising layers (a) and (b), wherein:
- (a) is a first doped polycrystalline semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type overlying and in contact with said substrate, and
- (b) is a second polycrystalline semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type overlying and in contact with said first polycrystalline layer and forming a p-n heterojunction therewith;
- a non-opaque, high conductivity layer overlying and in contact with said polycrystalline layer;
- an amorphous cell comprising layers (c), (d), and (e), wherein:
- (c) is a first doped amorphous semiconductor layer of first conductivity type overlying and in contact with said non-opaque, high conductivity layer,
- (d) is an intrinsic amorphous semiconductor layer overlying and in contact with said first doped amorphous layer, and
- (e) is a second doped amorphous semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type overlying and in contact with said intrinsic amorphous layer;
- and
- (h) an electrical contact layer overlying and in contact with said second doped amorphous semiconductor layer.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.