摘要:
Embodiments generally relate to optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, a method for forming a device includes forming an absorber layer made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and having one type of doping, and forming an emitter layer made of a different material and having a higher bandgap than the absorber layer. An intermediate layer can be formed between emitter and absorber layers. A heterojunction and p-n junction are formed between the emitter layer and the absorber layer, where the p-n junction is formed at least partially within the different material at a location offset from the heterojunction. A majority of the absorber layer can be outside of a depletion region formed by the p-n junction. The p-n junction causes a voltage to be generated in the cell in response to the cell being exposed to light at a front side.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells are provided. A photovoltaic (PV) device generally includes a window layer; an absorber layer disposed below the window layer such that electrons are generated when photons travel through the window layer and are absorbed by the absorber layer; and a plurality of contacts for external connection coupled to the absorber layer, such that all of the contacts for external connection are disposed below the absorber layer and do not block any of the photons from reaching the absorber layer through the window layer. Locating all the contacts on the back side of the PV device avoids solar shadows caused by front side contacts, typically found in conventional solar cells. Therefore, PV devices described herein with back side contacts may allow for increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells. A photovoltaic (PV) unit, according to embodiments of the invention, may have a very thin absorber layer produced by epitaxial lift-off (ELO), all electrical contacts positioned on the back side of the PV device to avoid shadowing, and/or front side and back side light trapping employing a diffuser and a reflector to increase absorption of the photons impinging on the front side of the PV unit. Several PV units may be combined into PV banks, and an array of PV banks may be connected to form a PV module with thin strips of metal or conductive polymer applied at low temperature. Such innovations may allow for greater efficiency and flexibility in PV devices when compared to conventional solar cells.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells. A photovoltaic (PV) device may incorporate front side and/or back side light trapping techniques in an effort to absorb as many of the photons incident on the front side of the PV device as possible in the absorber layer. The light trapping techniques may include a front side antireflective coating, multiple window layers, roughening or texturing on the front and/or the back sides, a back side diffuser for scattering the light, and/or a back side reflector for redirecting the light into the interior of the PV device. With such light trapping techniques, more light may be absorbed by the absorber layer for a given amount of incident light, thereby increasing the efficiency of the PV device.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells are provided. A photovoltaic (PV) device generally includes a window layer; an absorber layer disposed below the window layer such that electrons are generated when photons travel through the window layer and are absorbed by the absorber layer; and a plurality of contacts for external connection coupled to the absorber layer, such that all of the contacts for external connection are disposed below the absorber layer and do not block any of the photons from reaching the absorber layer through the window layer. Locating all the contacts on the back side of the PV device avoids solar shadows caused by front side contacts, typically found in conventional solar cells. Therefore, PV devices described herein with back side contacts may allow for increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells.
摘要:
The present invention provides a process for fabricating merged integrated circuits on a semiconductor wafer substrate. The process comprises forming a gate oxide on the semiconductor wafer substrate, forming a first transistor having a first gate on the gate oxide, and forming a second transistor having a second gate on the same gate oxide. The first transistor is optimized to a first operating voltage by varying a physical property of the first gate, varying a first tub doping profile, or varying a first source/drain doping profile. The second transistor is optimized to a second operating voltage by varying a physical property of the second gate, varying a second tub doping profile, or varying a second source/drain doping profile of the second transistor. These physical characteristics may be changed in any combination or singly to achieve the determined optimization of the operating voltage of any given transistor.
摘要:
A method for forming single crystalline silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structures over a silicon substrate includes forming an amorphous silicon layer over an insulating layer and contacting the substrate through the insulating layer. An excimer laser having operating conditions and a wavelength chosen to selectively melt amorphous silicon irradiates the entire substrate surface and is largely non-absorbed by materials other than silicon when incident upon them. Heating of the substrate and other materials is therefore minimal. After a blanket radiation process selectively melts the amorphous silicon layer, cooling conditions are chosen such that a single crystal silicon film is formed during the solidification process due to contact to the single crystal silicon substrate which acts as a seed layer. Various devices may be formed on the SOI islands as well as on exposed portions of the substrate not covered by the SOI islands.
摘要:
A gate or capacitor insulator structure using a first grown oxide layer, a high-k dielectric material on the grown oxide layer, and a deposited oxide layer on the high-k dielectric material. The deposited oxide layer is preferably a densified deposited oxide layer. A conducting layer, such as a gate or capacitor plate, may overlay the densified oxide layer.
摘要:
A programmable semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The device includes: (1) a substrate composed at least in part of silicon, (2) a dielectric layer located over the substrate and (3) a control gate located over the dielectric layer wherein the dielectric layer contains a substantial concentration of an isotope of hydrogen.