Solar cell

Abstract

Disclosed are a relatively high-efficiency solar cell and a method for fabricating the same using a micro-heater array. The solar cell may include first and second micro-heaters intersecting each other or being parallel to each other on a substrate, and a plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers formed using the first and second micro-heaters. The solar cell has improved efficiency because sunlight with various wavelengths may be effectively absorbed by the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers. Furthermore, relatively large-sized solar cells may be fabricated, because the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers may be formed on a glass substrate using a micro-heater array.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A solar cell comprising:
 a substrate;   a first micro-heater having a first heating portion and first supports, the first heating portion being spaced apart from the substrate by the first supports;   a second micro-heater having a second heating portion and second supports, the second heating portion arranged parallel to the first heating portion while being spaced apart from the substrate by the second supports; and   a plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers on at least one of the first and second heating portions, x being a number from 0 to 1 and each of the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers having a different value for x, the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers being electrically-connected to the first and second heating portions.   
     
     
         12 . The solar cell of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate is made of a glass material. 
     
     
         13 . The solar cell of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a lens above at least one of the first and second heating portions, the lens focusing sunlight onto the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers.   
     
     
         14 . The solar cell of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers have a multilayer structure, and an outer layer of the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers has a smaller x value than that of an inner layer of the plurality of In x Ga 1-x N p-n junction layers. 
     
     
         15 . The solar cell of  claim 11 , wherein the first supports are between the substrate and the first heating portion, and the second supports are between the substrate and the second heating portion. 
     
     
         16 . The solar cell of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first micro-heater further comprises first connecting portions extending from opposing sides of the first heating portion and arranged along a length of the first heating portion while being spaced apart from each other,   the second micro-heater further comprises second connecting portions extending from opposing sides of the second heating portion and arranged along a length of the second heating portion while being spaced apart from each other, and   the first supports are between the substrate and the first connecting portions so as to support the first heating portion and the first connecting portions, and the second supports are between the substrate and the second connecting portions so as to support the second heating portion and the second connecting portions.   
     
     
         17 . The solar cell of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first micro-heater further comprises first connecting portions extending from opposing sides of the first heating portion and arranged along a length of the first heating portion while being spaced apart from each other, and   the first supports are between the substrate and the first connecting portions so as to support the first heating portion and the first connecting portions, and the second supports are between the substrate and the second heating portion so as to support the second heating portion.   
     
     
         18 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The solar cell of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second supports are directly disposed on the substrate.