Concentrator solar cell having a multi-quantum well system in the depletion region of the cell
AssigneeImperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
InventorKeith Barnham
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Abstract
A solar cell formed from a semiconductor having a relative wide band-gap E.sub.b- characterized by a multi-quantum well system incorporated in the depletion region of the cell in which the quantum wells comprise regions of semiconductor with a smaller band gap separated by small amounts of the wider band-gap semiconductor (E.sub.b) so that the effective band-gap for absorption (E.sub.a) is less than E.sub.b.
Claims12
A solar cell formed from a semiconductor having a relatively wide band-gap E.sub.b, characterized by a multi-quantum well system incorporated in the depletion region of the cell, in which the quantum wells comprise regions of semiconductor with a smaller band gap separated by small amounts of the wide band-gap semiconductor (E.sub.b) so that an effective band-gap for absorption (E.sub.a) is less than E.sub.b ;
- characterized in that the quantum wells are sufficiently deep to ensure that electrons and holes trapped in the quantum wells cannot escape at normal room temperature but are energized to higher levels at higher temperatures so that an energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell is correspondingly increased.
A semiconductor device particularly adapted for use as a concentrator solar cell or other energy conversion applications comprising a semiconductor material having quantum wells of sufficient depth to trap substantially all photon-generated carriers, whereby the trapped carriers will then absorb photon energy and escape from the quantum wells to produce a current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.