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US3935031A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Photovoltaic cell with enhanced power output

Assignee: New England Institute Inc
•
Filing: 1973-05-07
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Granted: 1976-01-27
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Expires: 1993-05-07
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Abstract

Abstract The photovoltage and photocurrent, and therefore, the power output of photovoltaic cells (solar cells) are markedly enhanced by depositing, on an exposed semiconductor surface of a solar cell, a layer of any one of a very large number of prophyrinic compounds.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alan D. Adler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:17
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H10F19/80; H10F77/00; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/311; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/549

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 39 words
An article of manufacture comprising a photovoltaic cell having a layer of at least one porphyrinic compound deposited on an exposed semiconductor surface thereof, said layer being at least as thick as a monomolecular layer of said porphyrinic compound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 39 words
An article of manufacture comprising a photovoltaic cell having a layer of at least one porphyrinic compound deposited on an exposed semiconductor surface thereof, said layer being at least as thick as a monomolecular layer of said porphyrinic compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the photovoltaic cell is a selenium cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the photovoltaic cell is a Cu/CuO cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the photovoltaic cell is a silicon cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the porphyrinic compound is a compound containing the porphin structure: ##SPC2##
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 55 words
An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the porphyrinic compound is selected from the group consisting of tetraphenyl porphyrin, zinc octaethyl porphyrin, copper tetraphenyl porphyrin, zinc tetraphenyl porphyrin, magnesium tetraphenyl porphyrin, iron tetraphenyl porphyrin chloride, silver tetraphenyl porphyrin, tetra-n-propyl porphyrin, porphin, tintetraphenyl porphyrin dichloride, tetraphenylchlorin TPPH 2 .sup. +2 (TFA - ) 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method of producing the article of claim 1, comprising depositing on an exposed semiconductor surface of a photocell, a layer of at least one porphyrinic compound, said layer being at least as thick as a monomolecular layer of said porphyrinic compound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the thickness of the layer is from 0.003 up to one micron.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the photocell is a selenium, silicon or Cu/CuO cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the porphyrinic compound is a compound containing the porphin structure: ##SPC3##
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 55 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the porphyrinic compound is selected from the group consisting of tetraphenyl porphyrin, zinc octaethyl porphyrin, copper tetraphenyl porphyrin, zinc tetraphenyl porphyrin, magnesium tetraphenyl porphyrin, iron tetraphenyl porphyrin chloride, silver tetraphenyl porphyrin, tetra-n-propyl porphyrin, porphin, tintetraphenyl prophyrin dichloride, tetraphenylchlorin TPPH 2 .sup. +2 (TFA - ) 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 55 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the photocell is a silicon cell and the method further comprises treating the cell with an alcoholic KOH solution to convert silicon dioxide on the surface of said cell to silica gel and diffusing the porphyrinic compound through said silica gel and onto the silicon semiconductor surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the layer is from 0.003 to 1 micron.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3225208A Cited
US3331707A Cited
US3539883A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-01-26 1979-07-28 1980-01-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-01-26 1983-07-28 1984-01-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-01-26 1987-07-28 1988-01-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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