Patent ID: 8039740

Claim:
A solar cell, comprising: a p-type layer comprising InGaN; an n-type layer comprising Si; a single p-n junction between the p-type layer and the n-type layer; a charge separation region for charge separation under illumination formed in the p-type layer having a first band gap; and a charge separation region for charge separation under illumination formed in the n-type layer having a second band gap, wherein the second band gap is different from the first band gap, wherein each of the charge separation regions in the p-type and n-type layers are formed to separate charge under illumination separately from one another, wherein the solar cell includes a plurality of charge separation regions for charge separation associated with the single p-n junction, and wherein a conduction band of one of the p-type and n-type layers substantially aligns with a valence band in the other of the p-type and n-type layers to form the p-n junction as a low resistance tunnel junction between the p-type layer and the n-type layer.