Integration of epitaxial lift-off solar cells with mini-parabolic concentrator arrays via printing method

US10069033B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · US

Inventors

• Stephen R. Forrest · Ann Arbor, US
• Kyusang Lee · Ann Arbor, US
• Dejiu Fan · Ann Arbor, US
• Jeramy D. Zimmerman · Golden, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 15, 2015
• Grant date: Sep 4, 2018
• Expiry date: Jan 15, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of preparing a photovoltaic device. In particular, the method comprises integrating epitaxial lift-off solar cells with mini-parabolic concentrator arrays via a printing method. Thus, there is disclosed a method comprising providing a growth substrate; depositing at least one protection layer on the growth substrate; depositing at least one sacrificial layer on the protection layer; depositing at least one photoactive cell on the sacrificial layer; etching a pattern of at least two parallel trenches that extend from the at least one photoactive cell to the sacrificial layer; depositing a metal on the at least one photoactive cell; bonding said metal to a host substrate; and removing the sacrificial layer with one or more etch steps. The host substrate can be a siloxane, which when rolled, can form a stamp used to integrate solar cells into concentrator arrays. There are also disclosed a method of making a growth substrate and the growth substrate made therefrom.