Reducing surface recombination and enhancing light trapping in solar cells

US8603900B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. · US

Inventor

• Deepak A. Ramappa · Dallas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 25, 2010
• Grant date: Dec 10, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 25, 2030

Classification

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

Abstract

Methods of improving the anti-reflection properties of one or more dielectric layers and reducing surface recombination of generated carriers of a solar cell are disclosed. In some embodiments, dopants are introduced into the dielectric layers to improve their anti-reflection properties. In other embodiments, species are introduced into the dielectric layers to create electrical fields which repel the minority carriers away from the surface and toward the contacts. In another embodiment, mobiles species are introduced to the anti-reflective coating, which cause carrier to be repelled from the surface of the solar cell. By creating a barrier at the surface of the solar cell, undesired recombination at the surface may be reduced.