Patent ID: 8614395

Claim:
A solar cell, comprising: a plurality of layers of compound semiconductors, the layers comprising: a first GaInP layer; an n-type GaAs layer that is immediately above and in direct physical contact with the first GaInP layer; a p-type GaAs layer that is immediately above and in direct physical contact with the n-type GaAs layer; a second GaInP layer that is immediately above and in direct physical contact with the p-type GaAs layer; a p-type GaAs contact layer that is immediately above and in direct physical contact with the second GaInP layer; and a positive electrical contact, comprised of metal, that is in direct physical contact with the p-type GaAs contact layer; and a negative electrical contact, comprised of metal, that is in direct physical contact with the first GaInP layer, wherein the positive and negative electrical contacts are exposed on a same side of the solar cell.