Solar cell with reduced absorber thickness and reduced back surface recombination

US9773927B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Hans-Juergen Eickelmann · Mainz, DE
• Michael Haag · Boulder, US
• Ruediger Kellmann · Mainz, DE
• Markus Schmidt · Seibersbach, DE
• Johannes Windeln · Bodenheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 26, 2016
• Grant date: Sep 26, 2017
• Expiry date: Apr 26, 2036

Classification

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

Abstract

Manufacture of an improved stacked-layered thin film solar cell. The solar cell has reduced absorber thickness and an improved back contact for Copper Indium Gallium Selenide solar cells. The back contact provides improved reflectance particularly for infrared wavelengths while still maintaining ohmic contact to the semiconductor absorber. This reflectance is achieved by producing a back contact having a highly reflecting metal separated from an absorbing layer with a dielectric layer.