Patent ID: 9065006
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: H01L,H02S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A multicell photovoltaic monolithic semiconductor device for generating electrical energy, comprising: an undoped substrate common to all cells of the multicell photovoltaic monolithic semiconductor device, the substrate having a first surface for receiving infrared and near-infrared photon energy from an emitter heat source in a near field and a second surface opposite the first surface forming an interface with a plurality of thin lateral collection region layers; the plurality of thin lateral collection region layers for generating electron-hole pairs from absorbed photon energy from the near field emitting surface; N+ collection junctions and P+ ohmic contact regions formed in a surface of each of the plurality of thin lateral collection region layers opposite the substrate, the N+ collection junctions for collecting electrons and the P+ ohmic contact regions for collecting holes from the electron-hole pairs traveling laterally in the plurality of thin lateral collection region layers; isolation cuts between individual cells of the multicell photovoltaic device, the individual cells formed by isolating adjacent P+ ohmic contact regions and N+ collection junctions within each of the plurality of thin lateral collection region layers; dielectric layers formed on the surface of each of the plurality of thin lateral collection region layers opposite the substrate and on surfaces of the isolation cuts; and metal interconnections and vias in the dielectric material for interconnecting N+ collection junctions and P+ ohmic contact regions within and between individual cells in an array for forming the multicell photovoltaic monolithic semiconductor device.