IP Library Granted Patent US 10,861,994
Granted Patent B2
US 10,861,994 · App. 16/435,838 · Granted Dec 8, 2020

Photovoltaic devices including doped semiconductor films

Inventors: Anke Abken (Port Hueneme, CA); Markus Gloeckler (Perrysburg, OH); Roger Green (St. Charles, MO); Akhlesh Gupta (Sylvania, OH); Upali Jayamaha (Perrysburg, OH); Peter Meyers (Christiansted, VI); Rick Powell (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
H01L31/073H01L31/02963H01L31/02966H01L31/022466H01L31/03042H01L31/18H01L31/1828H01L31/1864H01L31/1868H01L31/1884Y02E10/50Y02E10/543Y02E10/544Y02P70/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,861,994
App. No.
16/435,838
Granted
Dec 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.

Claims (15)

1. A photovoltaic cell comprising:

a transparent conductive layer;

a first semiconductor window layer over the transparent conductive layer;

a dopant layer comprising a first dopant over the first semiconductor window layer;

a second semiconductor window layer over and in direct contact with the dopant layer;

wherein,

the second semiconductor window layer includes the first dopant;

the first and second semiconductor window layers comprise at least one of MgO or ZnO; and

the dopant layer comprising the first dopant has a thickness between 4 and 15 Angstroms; and

a semiconductor absorber layer over the second semiconductor window layer, wherein the semiconductor absorber layer comprises a mixture of CdTe and CdSe, doped p-type with a Group I element and a Group V element, wherein a concentration of the Group V element in the semiconductor absorber layer is between 0.5 ppma and 500 ppma.

2. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the Group I element comprises at least one of: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), or gold (Au).

3. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the Group V element comprises at least one of phosphorous (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), or bismuth (Bi).

4. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the Group V element comprises P.

5. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the Group V element comprises As.

6. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , further comprising a top layer over the semiconductor absorber layer, wherein the top layer comprises a metal nitride, and wherein the metal nitride, includes at least one of: aluminum, molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, nickel, titanium, or tungsten.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 074858/0364 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064237/0462 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2019
From: POWELL, RICK C.; JAYAMAHA, UPALI; ABKEN, ANKE; GLOECKLER, MARKUS; GUPTA, AKHLESH; GREEN, ROGER T.; MEYERS, PETER
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 049439/0920 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,610,650 US 12,690,278