Multiple cell, two terminal photovoltaic device employing conductively adhered cells
AssigneeThe Standard Oil Company
InventorsWilliam J. Biter, Gerald P. Ceasar
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Abstract
A two terminal, multiple cell photovoltaic device, each including materials having mutually imcompatible preparatory processes, is manufactured by separately forming the cells on substrates and adhering the cells with a light-transmissive, electrically conductive adhesive. Highly efficient photovoltaic devices including electrodeposited cells of cadmium sulfide and cadmium telluride can be combined with evaporated and condensed cells of cadmium sulfide and copper indium diselenide can be manufactured according to the invention.
Claims36
A method of manufacturing a multiple cell, two terminal, photovoltaic device comprising depositing on a first, light-transmissive substrate, a first photovoltaic cell of thin film semiconductor material for absorbing light having energies exceeding a first energy, depositing on a second substrate a second photovoltaic cell of thin film semiconductor material for absorbing light having energies exceeding a second energy, said second energy being smaller than said first energy, bonding said cells together opposite said first and second substrates with an electrically conductive, light-transmissive adhesive and establishing a first electrical contact to said first cell adjacent to said first substrate as a first terminal of said device and establishing a second electrical contact to said second cell adjacent said second substrate to form a second electrical terminal of said device.
A multiple call, two terminal photovoltaic device comprising a first photovoltaic cell formed of a thin film non-monocrystalline semiconductor material disposed on a first light-transmissive substrate and having a first electrical terminal connected to said first cell adjacent said first substrate, said first cell absorbing light having energies exceeding a first energy, a second photovoltaic cell formed of a thin film polycrystalline, semiconductor material, disposed on a second substrate and having a second electrical terminal connected to said second cell adjacent said second substrate, said second cell absorbing light having energies exceeding a second energy, said second energy being smaller than said first energy, said first and second cells being bonded together opposite said first and second substrates by an electrically conductive, light-transmissive adhesive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.