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EP0111247A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Photovoltaic device

Assignee: Kanegafuchi Chemical Industry Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-11-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-11-30
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Abstract

Abstract A PIN junction photovoltaic device using a P-type or N-type semiconductor having an optical band gap of not less than about 1.8 eV and a dark conductivity of not less than about 10 -8 (Ω.cm) -1 at 20°C. in the layer positioned on the opposite side to incidence of light. The photovoltaic device has an improved efficiency.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshihisa Tawada
  • 👤 Kazunori Tsuge

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 07:01
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/17; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/48; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52; Y02E10/547; Y02E10/548

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 62 words
In a PIN junction photovoltaic device having a construction of electrode/PIN/electrode, said photovoltaic device being improved in that the P or N layer positioned on the opposite side to incidence of light is a semiconductor having an optical band gap of not less than about 1.8 eV and a dark conductivity of not less than about 10- 8 (Ω.cm) -1 at 20°C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 62 words
In a PIN junction photovoltaic device having a construction of electrode/PIN/electrode, said photovoltaic device being improved in that the P or N layer positioned on the opposite side to incidence of light is a semiconductor having an optical band gap of not less than about 1.8 eV and a dark conductivity of not less than about 10- 8 (Ω.cm) -1 at 20°C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 1, wherein a back side electrode positioned on the opposite side to incidence of light has a reflectivity of not less than 70%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 2, wherein said back side electrode is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Ti-Ag, Ni and Cr.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 1, wherein a metal oxide is interposed between the back side electrode and the semiconductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 4, wherein said metal oxide has a light transmission of not less than about 80 %.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 42 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 4, wherein said metal oxide is a layer of a conductive metal oxide selected from the group consisting of Sn0 2 , In 2 O 3 and indium-tin-oxide or a combination of at least two said layers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 4, wherein said metal oxide is an insulating metal oxide having a thickness of 10 to 100 angstroms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 50 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 1, wherein the I-layer is an amorphous semiconductor made of a main element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge and S n or an amorphous semiconductor made of at least two elements selected from the group Si, Ge, Sn, C, N and O.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 53 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 8, wherein said I-layer is one prepared by glow discharge decomposition in a mixture of a compound selected from the group consisting of a Si compound, a Ge compound and a Sn compound and a compound selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon and a carbon fluoride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 1, having a multi-layer structure where a plurarity of PIN units each consisting of P, I and N layers are repeatedly provided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 10, wherein the optical band gaps of the respective I-layers are decreased in order from the light incident side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 48 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 1, wherein the P or N layer positioned on the light incident side is a semiconductor having a dark conductivity of not less than about 10 -8 (Ω·cm) -1 at 20°C. and an optical band gap of not less than about 1.85 eV.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 48 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 10, wherein the P or N layer positioned on the light incident side is a semiconductor having a dark conductivity of not less than about 10- 8 (Ω·cm) -1 at 20°C. and an optical band gap of not less than about 1.85 eV.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 45 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 1, wherein the P or N layer positioned on the opposite side to incidence of light is an amorphous semiconductor or amorphous semiconductor containing a microcrystalline phase selected from a-SiC:H, a-SiC:F:H, a-SiCN:H, a-SiCN:F:H, a-SiN:H, a-SiN:F:H, a-SiO:H, a-SiO:F:H, a-SiON:H and a-SiON:F:H.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The photovoltaic device of Claim 14, wherein the I-layer is a-Si:H or a-Si:F:H.

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