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US4392011A
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Solar cell structure incorporating a novel single crystal silicon material
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1981-10-08
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Granted: 1983-07-05
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Expires: 2001-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A novel hydrogen rich single crystal silicon material having a band gap energy greater than 1.1 eV can be fabricated by forming an amorphous region of graded crystallinity in a body of single crystalline silicon and thereafter contacting the region with atomic hydrogen followed by pulsed laser annealing at a sufficient power and for a sufficient duration to recrystallize the region into single crystal silicon without out-gassing the hydrogen. The new material can be used to fabricate semiconductor devices such as single crystal silicon solar cells with surface window regions having a greater band gap energy than that of single crystal silicon without hydrogen.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques I. Pankove
- 👤 Chung P. Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:44
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B1/00; C30B1/02; C30B1/023; H; H10; H10F; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/14; H10F71/00; H10F71/121; H10F71/128; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/20; H10P14/34; H10P14/3402; H10P14/3404; H10P14/3411; H10P14/38; H10P14/3802; H10P14/3806; H10P14/3808; H10P14/3816; H10P34/00; H10P34/40; H10P34/42; H10P14/29; H10P14/2901; H10P14/2902; H10P14/2905; H10P14/3451; H10P14/3452; H10P14/3454; H10P14/3458; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/547; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12674
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
27 words
A body of single crystal silicon material having a region incorporating hydrogen in a sufficient concentration to have a band gap energy in excess of 1.1 eV.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A body of single crystal silicon material having a region incorporating hydrogen in a sufficient concentration to have a band gap energy in excess of 1.1 eV.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The body according to claim 1 wherein said region has a band gap energy between 1.1 eV and 1.7 eV.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The body according to claim 2 wherein said region is from about 0.05 to about 1.0 micrometer thick.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A single crystal silicon solar cell comprising: a body of single crystal silicon having regions of differing conductivity forming a photovoltaic junction therein, said body having opposed major surfaces wherein the major surface which is adapted to be incident to solar radiation has a region thereunder with sufficient concentration of hydrogen incorporated therein to have a band gap energy which is greater than the band gap energy of the single crystal silicon of said body; and means for electrically contacting said opposed major surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A single crystal silicon solar cell comprising: a body of single crystal silicon having regions of differing conductivity forming a photovoltaic junction therein, said body having opposed major surfaces wherein the major surface which is adapted to be incident to solar radiation has a region thereunder with sufficient concentration of hydrogen incorporated therein to have a band gap energy which is greater than the band gap energy of the single crystal silicon of said body; and means for electrically contacting said opposed major surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The single crystal solar cell according to claim 4 wherein said region has a band gap energy in excess of 1.1 eV and a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 micrometer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4113514A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-04 | 1987-01-03 | 1987-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-04 | 1991-01-03 | 1991-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-04 | 1995-01-03 | 1995-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |