IP Library Patent Application 12468444
Patent Application
App. No. 12/468,444

STACKED SOLAR CELL

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/468,444
Filed
May 19, 2009
Art Unit
1758
USPC
136/256
Abstract

A solar cell including a first semiconductor layer formed by sequentially stacking a positive (P) layer, an intrinsic (I) layer and a negative (N) layer, wherein the P layer comprises amorphous silicon carbide and at least one of the I and N layers comprises micro-crystalline silicon.

Claims (38)

1 . A solar cell, comprising:

a first semiconductor layer formed by sequentially stacking a positive (P) layer, an intrinsic (I) layer, and a negative (N) layer,

wherein the P layer comprises amorphous silicon carbide and at least one of the I and N layers comprises micro-crystalline silicon.

2 . The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second semiconductor layer adjacent to the first semiconductor layer, wherein the second semiconductor layer comprises a P layer, an I layer, and an N layer, and

wherein at least one of the P, I, and N layers of the second semiconductor layer comprises amorphous silicon.

3 . The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the second semiconductor layer is disposed closer to a light incident side of the solar cell than the first semiconductor layer.

4 . The solar cell of claim 3 , further comprising:

a third semiconductor layer formed between the first and second semiconductor layers, wherein the third semiconductor layer is formed by sequentially stacking a P layer, an I layer and an N layer, and

wherein the I layer and the N layer of the third semiconductor layer comprise amorphous silicon germanium (a-SiGe).

5 . The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the I layer of the first semiconductor layer comprises an incubation layer adjacent to a top surface of the P layer of the first semiconductor layer.

6 . The solar cell of claim 5 , wherein the incubation layer comprises amorphous silicon.

7 . The solar cell of claim 6 , wherein the second semiconductor layer is disposed closer to a light incident side of the solar cell than the first semiconductor layer.

8 . The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the I layer of the first semiconductor layer has different degrees of crystallization in a vertical direction.

9 . The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the P, I, and N layers of the second semiconductor layer are sequentially stacked on a substrate, and the solar cell further comprises a transparent conductive film formed between the substrate and the second semiconductor layer.

10 . The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

a rear electrode disposed on the first semiconductor layer.

11 . A stacked solar cell, comprising:

a substrate;

a transparent conductive film formed on the substrate;

a plurality of semiconductor layers each including a positive (P) layer, an intrinsic (I) layer, and a negative (N) layer, wherein the plurality of semiconductor layers are sequentially stacked on the transparent conductive film; and

a rear electrode disposed on a semiconductor layer disposed farthest from the transparent conductive film,

wherein a first semiconductor layer has an I layer comprising micro-crystalline silicon and a second semiconductor layer has an I layer comprising amorphous silicon, the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are adjacent to each other, and a P layer of the first semiconductor layer comprises amorphous silicon carbide.

12 . The stacked solar cell of claim 11 , wherein the second semiconductor layer is disposed closer to a light incident side of the stacked solar cell than the first semiconductor layer.

13 . The stacked solar cell of claim 12 , wherein an N layer of the second semiconductor layer comprises amorphous silicon.

14 . The stacked solar cell of claim 13 , further comprising:

a third semiconductor layer formed between the first and second semiconductor layers,

wherein the third semiconductor layer is formed by sequentially stacking a P layer, an I layer and an N layer, and

wherein the I layer and the N layer of the third semiconductor layer comprise amorphous silicon germanium (a-SiGe).

15 . The stacked solar cell of claim 13 , wherein a P layer of the second semiconductor layer comprises boron doped amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) or amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:H).

16 . The stacked solar cell of claim 13 , wherein an N layer of the first semiconductor layer comprises micro-crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon.

17 . The stacked solar cell of claim 11 , wherein the I layer of the first semiconductor layer comprises an incubation layer that is adjacent to a top surface of the P layer of the first semiconductor layer.

18 . The stacked solar cell of claim 17 , wherein the incubation layer is generated when growing a thin film.

19 . A stacked solar cell, comprising:

a first semiconductor layer formed by sequentially stacking a positive (P) layer, an intrinsic (I) layer and a negative (N) layer; and

a second semiconductor layer formed by sequentially stacking a P layer, an I layer and an N layer,

wherein the first semiconductor layer is disposed on the second semiconductor layer, and the P layer of the first semiconductor layer that forms an interface with the N layer of the second semiconductor layer comprises amorphous silicon carbide.

20 . The stacked solar cell of claim 19 , wherein the I layer of the first semiconductor layer comprises micro-crystalline silicon.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029123/0419 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2011
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.; SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 026627/0129 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2009
From: LIM, MI-HWA; LEE, CZANG-HO; SEO, JOON-YOUNG; SHIN, MYUNG-HUN; OH, MIN-SEOK; LEE, BYOUNG-KYU; NAM, YUK-HYUN; JUNG, SEUNG-JAE
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022704/0773 →