Thin film photovoltaic structure and fabrication

Abstract

Novel photovoltaic structures comprising an insulator structure bonded to an exfoliation layer, preferably of a substantially single-crystal donor semiconductor wafer, and at least one photovoltaic device layer, such as a conductive layer, and systems and methods of production of a photovoltaic device, comprising creating on a donor semiconductor wafer an exfoliation layer and transferring the exfoliation layer to an insulator substrate.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to systems, methods and products for producing thin film photovoltaic structures, preferably having thin films that are substantially single crystal, and utilizing improved processes comprising: transferring a base of a photovoltaic structure or a partially completed photovoltaic structure to an insulator substrate, and anodically bonded to the insulator substrate. Background technique [0002] Photovoltaic structures (PVS) are special forms of semiconductor structures that convert photons into electricity. Fundamentally, the device needs to fulfill two functions: the photogeneration of charge carriers (electrons and holes) in the light-absorbing material, and the separation of the charge carriers to the conductive contacts that will carry the current. This conversion is called the photovoltaic (PV) effect, and is used in solar cells, which convert light energy into electrical energy, and the field of research on solar ce...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0011] In contrast to microelectronic applications of SOI structures, photovoltaic structures are more tolerant of such defects, although such defects can still adversely affect the performance of photovoltaic cells

While such trimming techniques like CMP improve surface properties, the defect tolerance of photovoltaic structures keeps their cost prohibitive

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