Multi-junction solar cell devices

Abstract

A photovoltaic cell structure for manufacturing a photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic cell structure includes a substrate including a surface region. A first conductor layer overlies the surface region. The photovoltaic cell structure includes a lower cell structure. The lower cell structure includes a first P type absorber layer using a first semiconductor metal chalcogenide material and/or other semiconductor material overlying the first conductor layer. The first P type absorber material is characterized by a first bandgap ranging from about 0.5 eV to about 1.0 eV, a first optical absorption coefficient greater than about 10 4 cm −1 . The lower cell structure includes a first N + type window layer comprising at least a second metal chalcogenide material and/or other semiconductor material overlying the first P absorber layer. The photovoltaic cell structure includes an upper cell structure. The upper cell structure includes a second P type absorber layer using a third semiconductor metal chalcogenide material. The second P type absorber layer is characterized by a second bandgap ranging from about 1.0 eV to 2.2 eV and a second optical absorption coefficient greater than about 10 4 cm −1 . A second N + type window layer comprising a fourth metal chalcogenide material overlies the second P absorber layer. A tunneling junction layer is provided between the upper cell structure and the lower cell structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photovoltaic cell structure for manufacturing a photovoltaic device, the photovoltaic cell structure comprises:
 a substrate including a surface region;   a first conductor layer overlying the surface region;   a lower cell structure, the lower cell structure comprising
 a first P type absorber comprising at least a first metal chalcogenide material and/or other suitable semiconductor material overlying the first conductor layer; 
 a first N +  type window layer comprising at least a second metal chalcogenide material and/or other suitable semiconductor material overlying the first P type absorber layer; 
   an upper cell structure, the upper cell structure comprising:
 a second P type absorber material comprising at least a third metal chalcogenide material overlying the tunneling junction layer; 
 a second N +  type window layer comprising at least a fourth metal chalcogenide material overlying the second absorber layer, wherein the fourth metal chalcogenide comprises zinc sulfide; 
 a buffer layer overlying the second N +  type window layer of the upper cell structure; the buffer layer being characterized by a resistivity greater than about 10 kohm-cm; and 
 a second conductor layer overlying the buffer layer; and 
   an adhesion layer disposed between the first N +  type window layer and the second P type absorber material.   
     
     
         2 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a semiconductor or a compound semiconductor material. 
     
     
         3 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the first metal chalcogenide material is selected from a semiconductor metal oxide, a semiconductor metal sulfide, a semiconductor metal selenide, or semiconductor metal telluride. 
     
     
         4 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the second metal chalcogenide material is selected from a semiconductor metal oxide, a semiconductor metal sulfide, a semiconductor metal selenide, or a semiconductor metal telluride, or a semiconductor metal silicide. 
     
     
         5 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the first P type absorber material being characterized by a first bandgap ranging from 0.5 eV to 1.0 eV, a first optical absorption coefficient greater than about 104 cm-1, and a first thickness ranging from 0.5 μm to 2 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the fourth metal chalcogenide material is selected from a semiconductor metal oxide, a semiconductor metal sulfide, a semiconductor metal selenide, or a semiconductor metal telluride. 
     
     
         7 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the first P type absorber layer comprises an iron disilicide material. 
     
     
         8 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the first N +  type window layer comprises a zinc sulfide material. 
     
     
         9 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the second P type absorber layer comprises a copper oxide material. 
     
     
         10 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the second N +  window layer comprises a zinc sulfide material. 
     
     
         11 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the first bandgap is less than the second bandgap. 
     
     
         12 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the first conductor layer comprises a transparent conducting oxide material selected from ZnO:Al, SnO:F, or ITO. 
     
     
         13 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the second conductor layer comprises a transparent conducting oxide material selected from ZnO:Al, SnO:F, or ITO. 
     
     
         14 . The photovoltaic cell structure of  claim 1  wherein the adhesion layer comprises ethyl vinyl acetate or polyvinyl butyral.