Patent ID: 8431817
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A multi junction solar cell comprising: a plurality of nanostructures having tops, bottoms, and sidewalls between the tops and bottoms, the plurality of nanostructures having first regions of a first conductivity type and second regions of a second conductivity type to form first p-n junctions, the plurality of nanostructures having third regions of the first conductivity type and fourth regions of the second conductivity type to form second p-n junctions, the first and second regions form a first diode, the third and fourth regions form a second diode; and a bi-layer sidewall electrical interconnect that surrounds the sidewalls and is in physical contact with the sidewalls, the bi-layer sidewall electrical interconnect having a first material in electrical and physical contact with the second regions and a second material in electrical and physical contact with the third regions, the first material and the second material are in electrical contact with each other to allow current generated by absorption of photons in the first and second p-n junctions to flow between the first diode and the second diode through the bi-layer sidewall electrical interconnect.