Patent · US Expired

Thin film solar cell

US4433202A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 1982
Grant dateFeb 21, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/546

Abstract

A thin film solar cell formed on a substrate, comprising at least first and second electrodes, at least one of which is capable of passing light, a silicon film interposed between said first and second electrodes, and at least one junction formed in the silicon film for separating electrons and positive holes when the cell is exposed to light, wherein said silicon film comprises a mixed phase consisting of a polycrystalline phase and an amorphous phase, and includes at least about 50% by volume of fibrous crystalline grains, each of said grains having a maximum bottom diameter of about 1 .mu.m and a minimum height of about 50 nm and having its grain boundaries terminated with a monovalent element. The solar cell has a high photoelectric conversion efficiency comparable to that of a single-crystal solar cell, and can be produced at a low cost.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.