IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,962,976
Granted Patent B2
US 8,962,976 · App. 12/492,015 · Granted Feb 24, 2015

Doped diamond solar cell

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,962,976
App. No.
12/492,015
Granted
Feb 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Implementations and techniques for doped diamond solar cells are generally disclosed.

Claims (59)

1. A method to produce a solar cell configured to produce an electrical signal in response to incident light, comprising:

providing a transparent substrate having a surface;

depositing a first transparent conductive layer on the surface of the transparent substrate;

depositing a first doped diamond layer of a first type on the first transparent conductive layer;

depositing a second doped diamond layer of a second type on the first doped diamond layer, wherein the first and second doped diamond layer form a p-n junction, wherein the p-n junction is responsive to at least a portion of the incident light such that the p-n junction converts the incident light into the electrical signal; and

depositing a second transparent conductive layer on the second doped diamond layer, wherein:

the p-n junction is adapted to convert an ultraviolet portion of the incident light into the electrical signal while permitting a visible portion of light to pass therethrough, the p-n junction having a band-gap configured to absorb ultraviolet incident light while the band-gap is not responsive to visible light, such that the p-n junction is configured to not convert the visible portion of incident light into the electrical signal; and

one or more of the first doped diamond layer and the second doped diamond layer has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 microns to about 10.0 microns.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

operably connecting a first electrode to the first transparent conductive layer; and

operably connecting a second electrode to the second transparent conductive layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein either the first or second transparent conductive layers comprises one or more of indium tin oxide and/or one or more metallic antiglare coatings.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein either depositing of the first doped diamond layer or depositing of the second doped diamond layer comprises depositing a diamond layer doped with ions of Groups Ia and/or Va of the Periodic Table via chemical vapor deposition with methane gas and hydrogen gas.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein either depositing of the first doped diamond layer or depositing of the second doped diamond layer comprises depositing a diamond layer doped with ions of Groups Ia and/or Va of the Periodic Table via chemical vapor deposition with methane gas and hydrogen gas, wherein a concentration ratio of methane gas to hydrogen gas is about 0.08%.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein either depositing of the first doped diamond layer or depositing of the second doped diamond layer comprises depositing a diamond layer doped with ions of Group Illa of the Periodic Table via chemical vapor deposition with methane gas and hydrogen gas.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

operably connecting a first electrode to the first transparent conductive layer;

operably connecting a second electrode to the second transparent conductive layer;

wherein either the first or second transparent conductive layers comprises one or more of indium tin oxide and/or one or more metallic antiglare coatings;

wherein depositing of either the first doped diamond layer or the second doped diamond layer comprises depositing a diamond layer comprising a thickness in a range from about 0.5 microns to about 3.0 microns doped with lithium ions via chemical vapor deposition with methane gas and hydrogen gas, wherein a concentration ratio of methane gas to hydrogen gas is about 0.08%;

wherein depositing of either the first doped diamond layer or the second doped diamond layer comprises depositing a diamond layer comprising a thickness in a range from about 0.5 microns to about 3.0 microns doped with boron ions via chemical vapor deposition with methane gas and hydrogen gas, wherein a concentration ratio of methane gas to hydrogen gas is about 0.08%.

8. A solar cell that is arranged to generate an electrical signal in response to incident light, the solar cell comprising:

a transparent substrate having a surface;

a first transparent conductive layer coupled to the surface;

a first doped diamond layer of a first type coupled to the first transparent conductive layer;

a second doped diamond layer of a second type coupled to the first doped diamond layer, wherein:

the first doped diamond layer and the second doped diamond layer form a p-n junction that is arranged to generate the electrical signal responsive to at least a portion of the incident light;

the p-n junction is adapted to convert an ultraviolet portion of the incident light into the electrical signal while permitting a visible portion of light to pass therethrough, the p-n junction having a band-gap configured to absorb ultraviolet incident light while the band-gap is not responsive to visible light, such that the p-n junction is configured to not convert the visible portion of incident light into the electrical signal; and

one or more of the first doped diamond layer and/or the second doped diamond layer has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 microns to about 10.0 microns; and

a second transparent conductive layer coupled to the second doped diamond layer.

9. The solar cell of claim 8 , further comprising:

a first electrode operably connected to the first transparent conductive layer; and

a second electrode operably connected to the second transparent conductive layer.

10. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the solar cell comprises one of a windshield, a window, a lens, or combinations thereof.

11. The solar cell of claim 8 ,

wherein either the first or second transparent conductive layers comprises one or more of indium tin oxide and/or one or more metallic antiglare coatings; and

wherein of either the first doped diamond layer or the second doped diamond layers are doped with boron ions via chemical vapor deposition.

12. An apparatus that is arranged to generate an electrical signal in response to incident light, the apparatus comprising:

a solar cell, comprising:

a transparent substrate having a surface;

a first transparent conductive layer coupled to the surface;

a first doped diamond layer of a first type coupled to the first transparent conductive layer;

a second doped diamond layer of a second type coupled to the first doped diamond layer, wherein:

the first doped diamond layer and the second doped diamond layer form a p-n junction that is arranged to generate the electrical signal responsive to at least a portion of the incident light;

the p-n junction is adapted to convert an ultraviolet portion of the incident light into the electrical signal while permitting a visible portion of light to pass therethrough, the p-n junction having a band-gap configured to absorb ultraviolet incident light while the band-gap is not responsive to visible light, such that the p-n junction is configured to not convert the visible portion of incident light into the electrical signal; and

one or more of the first doped diamond layer and/or the second doped diamond layer has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 microns to about 10.0 microns; and

a second transparent conductive layer coupled to the second doped diamond layer; and

an electrical system operably connected to the solar cell and arranged to receive the electrical signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus comprises one of a vehicle, an eyewear, a building, a container, or combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the solar cell comprises one of a windshield, a window, a lens, or combinations thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a first electrode operably connected to the first transparent conductive layer and operably connected to the electrical system; and

a second electrode operably connected to the second transparent conductive layer and operably connected to the electrical system.

16. The solar cell of claim 8 ,

wherein one of the first type or second type of doped diamond layer is an N-type semiconductor including one or more dopant ions dopant ions selected from Group Ia of the Periodic Table, including lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), caesium (Cs), or francium (Fr).

17. The apparatus of claim 12 ,

wherein one of the first type or second type of doped diamond layer is an N-type semiconductor including one or more dopant ions selected from Group Ia of the Periodic Table, including lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), caesium (Cs), or francium (Fr).

18. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the solar cell is transparent to visible light.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the solar cell is transparent to visible light.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2019
From: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
To: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
Reel/Frame 048373/0217 →