Manufacturing semiconductor-based multi-junction photovoltaic devices

US10283666B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EpiWorks, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David Ahmari · Champaign, US
• Swee Lim · San Jose, US
• Shiva Rai · Champaign, US
• David Forbes · Oregon, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 18, 2017
• Grant date: May 7, 2019
• Expiry date: Aug 18, 2037

Classification

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

Abstract

Manufacture of multi-junction solar cells, and devices thereof, are disclosed. The architectures are also adapted to provide for a more uniform and consistent fabrication of the solar cell structures, leading to improved yields, greater efficiency, and lower costs. Certain solar cells may be from a different manufacturing process and further include one or more compositional gradients of one or more semiconductor elements in one or more semiconductor layers, resulting in a more optimal solar cell device. A multi-junction cell may include a back surface field layer, a tunneling junction layer, a first active cell, and a second active cell.