Solar cell substrate, thin-film solar cell, and multi-junction thin-film solar cell
US6787692B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/26
Abstract
A solar cell substrate has irregularities on a surface which is in contact with a photo-electric conversion layer, and light is incident on the side of the irregularities. The height of the irregularities is set so that the root mean square height is in a range of 15 nm to 600 nm, and tan &thgr; is in a range of 0.10 to 0.30, where &thgr; is the angle of incline of the surface of the irregularities with respect to an average line of the irregularities. Light incident on the irregularities is scattered at the interface. This increases the optical path length and thus the quantity of light absorbed in the photo-electric conversion layer, resulting in improved efficiency. Additionally, the photo-electric conversion layer can be made thinner reducing deposit time and manufacturing cost. Further, collision of crystals is not incurred, thus preventing deterioration of photo-electric conversion efficiency which is caused by defects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.