Patent ID: 8373060
Filing Date: 2013-02-12
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic cell, comprising: one or more overlying electron-conducting layers each comprising one or more electron-conducting materials; one or more overlying hole-conducting layers each comprising one or more hole-conducting materials; one or more overlying photoactive conversion layers, each of the overlying photoactive conversion layers being disposed between the one or more overlying electron-conducting layers and the one or more overlying hole-conducting layers, each of the photoactive conversion layers comprising one or more distinct overlying semiconductor and oxide layers, each semiconductor and oxide layer comprising a multiplicity of semiconductor grains arranged in distinct oxide matrix, wherein each of the semiconductor grains is substantially columnar, wherein each of the semiconductor grains has a height substantially equal to that of a thickness of the respective distinct semiconductor and oxide layer, wherein the oxide matrix is dispersed at least at circumferential grain boundaries of the semiconductor grains, and wherein each of the one or more overlying photoactive conversion layers comprises: one or more metal and oxide layers, each of the one or more metal and oxide layers being disposed between the one or more overlying electron-conducting layers and the one or more overlying hole-conducting layers, each of the metal and oxide layers comprising a multiplicity of metallic grains arranged in an oxide matrix, wherein each of the metallic grains is substantially columnar, wherein each of the metallic grains has a height equal to that of a thickness of the respective metal and oxide layer, and wherein the oxide matrix is dispersed at least at circumferential grain boundaries of the metallic grains.