High-efficiency solar-cell arrays with integrated devices and methods for forming them

US8604330B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• 4Power, LLC · US

Inventors

• John J. Hennessy · Los Angeles, US
• Andrew C. Malonis · Somerville, US
• Arthur J. Pitera · Cambridge, US
• Eugene A. Fitzgerald · Windham, US
• Steven A. Ringel · Columbus, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 5, 2011
• Grant date: Dec 10, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 31, 2032

Classification

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

Abstract

In various embodiments, an array of discrete solar cells with associated devices such as bypass diodes is formed over a single substrate. In one instance, a method of forming a solar-cell array with integrated bypass diodes comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate, a first cell comprising a SiGe p-n junction or SiGe p-i-n junction, one or more second cells each comprising a III-V semiconductor p-n junction or III-V semiconductor p-i-n junction; forming a bypass diode that is discrete and laterally separate from its associated solar cell and comprises an unremoved portion of the first cell, the formation comprising removing an unremoved portion of the one or more second cells thereover.