Photovoltaic device with nanostructured layers

Abstract

Photovoltaic devices or solar cells are provided. More particularly, the present invention provides photovoltaic devices having IR and / or UV absorbing nanostructured layers that increase efficiency of solar cells. In some embodiments the nanostructured materials are integrated with one or more of: crystalline silicon (single crystal or polycrystalline) solar cells and thin film (amorphous silicon, macrocrystalline silicon, CdTe, CIGS and III-V materials) solar cells whose absorption is primarily in the visible region. In some embodiments the nanoparticle materials are comprised of quantum dots, rods or multipods of various sizes.

Description

technical field [0001] In general, the present invention relates to the field of photovoltaics or solar cells. The invention more particularly relates to photovoltaic devices having nanostructured layers. Background technique [0002] Rising oil prices have increased the importance of developing cost-effective renewable energy. Efforts are underway worldwide to develop cost-effective solar cells to harvest solar energy. Current solar technologies can be broadly classified into crystalline silicon and thin film technologies. More than 90 percent of solar cells are made of silicon—monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous. [0003] Crystalline silicon (c-Si) has historically been used as the light-absorbing semiconductor in most solar cells, although it is a relatively poor light-absorbing material and requires comparable material thicknesses (hundreds of microns). However, it has proven convenient since it produces stable solar cells with good efficiencies (12-20%, ha...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The two main problems with CIGS solar cells are: (1) there is no clear route to higher efficiencies and (2) the high processing temperatures make it difficult to use high speed rolls for roll processing and thus cannot obtain materials that can be made from amorphous silicon. Significantly lower cost structure obtained with solar cells

However, polymers have two major disadvantages: (1) poor efficiency due to slow charge transport and (2) poor stability - especially to UV (ultraviolet light)

[0022] Therefore, many challenges remain and there is a significant need for further development

Images