# US 6,297,442 B1 · Solar cell, self-power-supply display device using same, and process for producing solar cell

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- Number: US 6,297,442 B1
- Document ID: US6297442B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/413,805
- Filed: 1999-10-07
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1998-11-13
- Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Shigeru Yagi; Seiji Suzuki; Nobuyuki Torigoe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6297442B1

## CPC

- H10F 77/244: {made of transparent conductive layers, e.g. transparent conductive oxide [TCO] layers}
- H10F 10/00: Individual photovoltaic cells, e.g. solar cells (electrolytic light-sensitive devices, e.g. dye-sensitised solar cells, H01G9/20)
- H10F 77/247: {comprising indium tin oxide [ITO]}
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- 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

It is to provide an essentially transparent solar cell of high efficiency that can be used by accumulating with a display device to generate electricity simultaneously with utilization of the display function, a self-power-supply display device comprising the same, and a process for producing the solar cell. The solar cell comprises at least a transparent conductive substrate having thereon a photoconductor layer that is transparent to a visible ray and has an absorbance of 0.8 or less at a wavelength of from 400 to 800 nm, and a transparent conductive electrode in this order. An embodiment, in which the photoconductor layer contains at least one element selected from Group IIIA elements and at least one element selected from Group VA elements in the Periodic Table, and an embodiment, in which the photoconductor layer contains a metallic oxide semiconductor, are preferred. Furthermore, an embodiment, in which the metallic oxide semiconductor is titanium oxide or zinc oxide, and an embodiment, in which the photoconductor layer has an optical gap of 2.8 eV or more, are preferred.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar cell comprising a transparent conductive substrate having thereon a photoconductor layer that is transparent to a visible ray and has an absorbance of 0.8 or less at a wavelength of from 400 to 800 nm, and a transparent conductive electrode in this order.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A solar cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductor layer contains at least one element selected from Group IIIA elements and at least one element selected from Group VA elements in the Periodic Table.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A solar cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductor layer contains a metallic oxide semiconductor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A solar cell as claimed in claim 3, wherein said metallic oxide semiconductor contains at least one of titanium oxide and zinc oxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A solar cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductor layer has a laminated structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A solar cell as claimed in claim 5, wherein said laminated structure comprises a first photoconductor layer containing at least one element selected from Group IIIA elements and at least one element selected from Group VA elements in the Periodic Table, and a second photoconductor layer containing a metallic oxide semiconductor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A solar cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductor layer has an optical gap of 2.8 eV or more.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A solar cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solar cell has a photoelectric conversion efficiency for light of an ultraviolet region that is larger than a photoelectric conversion efficiency for light of a visible region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A self-power-supply display device comprising a solar cell as claimed in claim 1, and a display device accumulated thereon.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive electrode is essentially transparent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive electrode consists of a transparent film of conductive material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive electrode is completely transparent.

### Claim 13

A process for producing a solar cell comprising a step of providing a photoconductor layer on a transparent conductive substrate by activating a compound containing a nitrogen element to an activated species, and reacting said activated species with an organic metallic compound containing at least one element selected from Al, Ga and In; and a step of providing a transparent conductive electrode on said photoconductor layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A process for producing a solar cell as claimed in claim 13, wherein said reacting is under an atmosphere containing hydrogen.