Application US20180166602

MULTIJUNCTION SOLAR CELL HAVING PATTERNED EMITTER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SOLAR CELL
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US20180166602

1. A multijunction solar cell, comprising: (8) (3)

a base substrate comprising a Group IV semiconductor and a dopant of a first carrier type;

a patterned emitter formed at a first surface of the base substrate, the patterned emitter comprising a plurality of well regions doped with a dopant of a second carrier type in the Group IV semiconductor, the base substrate including the patterned emitter forming a first solar subcell; and

an upper structure comprising one or more additional solar subcells over the first solar subcell.

2. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, further comprising a passivation layer at the first surface of the base substrate, the passivation layer positioned between the well regions of the patterned emitter and comprising dopant of the first carrier type. (0)

3. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, wherein the Group IV semiconductor comprises a material chosen from germanium and silicon. (0)

4. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, wherein the dopant of the first carrier type is a p-type dopant and the dopant of the second carrier type is an n-type dopant. (0)

5. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, wherein the dopant of the first carrier type is a n-type dopant and the dopant of the second carrier type is an p-type dopant. (0)

6. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, wherein the well regions of the patterned emitter are positioned in an array. (0)

7. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, wherein the base substrate comprises single crystal germanium and the one or more additional solar subcells each comprising a pn junction formed in a III/V heteroepitaxial layer. (2) (0)

10. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, wherein the one or more additional solar subcells each comprise a pn junction formed in a semiconductive perovskite material. (2) (0)

13. The multijunction solar cell of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of contacts positioned to connect the multijunction solar cell to a circuit. (0)

14. A method of making a multijunction solar cell, the method comprising: (2) (3)

providing a base substrate comprising a Group IV semiconductor and a dopant of a first carrier type, the base substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface;

forming a patterned emitter at the first major surface of the base substrate, the patterned emitter comprising a plurality of well regions doped with a dopant of a second carrier type in the Group IV semiconductor, the base substrate including the patterned emitter forming a first solar subcell; and

forming an upper structure comprising one or more additional solar subcells over the first solar subcell.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more additional solar subcells each comprising a pn junction formed in a III/V heteroepitaxial layer. (2) (0)

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more additional solar subcells each comprise a pn junction formed in a semiconductive perovskite material. (2) (0)

21. A method of making a solar cell substrate, the method comprising: (3) (3)

preparing the first major surface of the base substrate to receive an epitaxial layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein preparing the first major surface of the base substrate to receive an epitaxial layer comprises: (0) (3)

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the base substrate comprises single crystal germanium. (0)

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing the base substrate to a solar cell manufacturer for fabricating a solar cell. (0)

25. A solar cell substrate, comprising: (1) (2)

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Application US20180166602

MULTIJUNCTION SOLAR CELL HAVING PATTERNED EMITTER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SOLAR CELL

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