Patent ID: 6440769
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: F24S,G01J,G02B,H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a light-trapping photovoltaic device comprising the steps of:providing a layer of thin film; shaping the thin film layer into a plurality of parabolic shaped concentrators; forming an aperture in the bottom of each of the parabolic shaped concentrators; coating the concentrators with a reflective material; encapsulating the concentrators with a transparent insulating layer; depositing a first reflective layer, a second transparent insulating layer adjacent the first reflective layer, a transparent first electrode layer adjacent the second transparent insulating layer, a photosensitive heterostructure adjacent the transparent first electrode layer, and a second electrode and reflective layer substantially parallel to the first reflective layer and adjacent the photosensitive heterostructure in spaced opposition to the first electrode to form a thin film photovoltaic cell on the bottom of each of the parabolic shaped concentrators, wherein one of the first reflective layer or the second electrode and reflective layer is deposited first and adjacent to the concentrators, and has an aperture for admittance of optical radiation to the photosensitive heterostructure; and depositing an anti-reflection coating on the upper end of the parabolic shaped concentrators.