Patent ID: 9123844
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: B82Y,H01L,Y02E

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 a distinct oxide matrix, where each of the semiconductor grains is substantially columnar along an axis perpendicular to an inter-layer planar surface of the semiconductor and oxide layer, each of the semiconductor grains has a height substantially equal to that of a thickness of the respective distinct semiconductor and oxide layer, the oxide matrix is dispersed at least at circumferential grain boundaries of the semiconductor grains and the oxide matrix has a conduction band selected to accept charge carriers injected from the semiconductor grains, and in each semiconductor and oxide layer the semiconductor grains are a single semiconductor type; and a substrate, wherein: the one or more overlying electron-conducting layers are deposited over the substrate, the one or more photoactive conversion layers are deposited over the one or more overlying electron-conducting layers, and the one or more overlying hole-conducting layers are deposited over the one or more photoactive conversion layers; or the one or more overlying hole-conducting layers are deposited over the substrate, the one or more photoactive conversion layers are deposited over the one or more overlying hole-conducting layers, and the one or more overlying electron-conducting layers are deposited over the one or more photoactive conversion layers; and one or more electrically conducting interlayers that promote vertical columnar growth of semiconductor grains from an adjacent semiconductor and oxide layer respectively during deposition of the adjacent layers and wherein one or more of the electrically conducting interlayers each comprise a continuous metallic layer which is in direct contact with the with the multiplicity of semiconductor grains.