PYRAMIDAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS
A pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell, comprising a pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprising a plurality of pyramid-shaped unit cells with emitter junction regions and doped base regions, emitter metallization regions and base metallization regions. Optionally, the pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell may be mounted on a rear mirror for improved light trapping and conversion efficiency.
1 . A pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell, comprising:
a pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprising emitter junction regions and doped base regions;
emitter metallization regions; and
base metallization regions,
wherein said pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a plurality of pyramid-shaped unit cells.
2 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said emitter junction regions and doped base regions comprise selective emitter junction regions and selective doped base regions.
3 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said emitter junction regions comprise self-aligned emitter junction regions, said doped base regions comprise self-aligned doped base regions, said emitter metallization regions comprise self-aligned emitter metallization regions, and said base metallization regions comprise self-aligned base metallization regions.
4 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a silicon substrate.
5 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 4 , wherein said silicon substrate comprises a crystalline silicon substrate.
6 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate with a polygon-pyramid design.
7 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 7 , wherein said polygon-pyramid design comprises a hexagonal-pyramid design.
8 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 7 , wherein said polygon-pyramid design comprises a square-pyramid design.
9 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 7 , wherein said polygon-pyramid design comprises a triangular-pyramid design.
10 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 7 , wherein said polygon-pyramid design comprises an orthogonal V-groove design.
11 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising a rear mirror.
12 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 11 , wherein said rear mirror comprises an integrated rear mirror.
13 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 11 , wherein said rear mirror comprises a detached rear mirror.
14 . A pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell, comprising a pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate, wherein said pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a plurality of pyramid-shaped unit cells.
15 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 14 , further comprising a rear mirror.
16 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said rear mirror comprises an integrated rear mirror.
17 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said rear mirror comprises a detached rear mirror.
18 . A pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell, comprising a pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate, wherein said pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a plurality of unit cells with pyramid-shaped cavities.
19 . The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 18 , wherein said pyramid-shaped cavities are surrounded by thin semiconductor sidewalls.
20 . The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 18 , further comprising a rear mirror.