AMORPHOUS SILICON PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS HAVING IMPROVED LIGHT TRAPPING AND ELECTRICITY-GENERATING METHOD

摘要

An amorphous siliconphotovoltaic cell exhibiting improved lighttrapping, and a method for generatingelectricity from sunlight therewith. The cellcomprises a plurality of layers, includinga transparent superstrate; a specular, firsttransparent conductor positioned below thetransparent superstrate; at least one p-i-nstructure having an active layer positionedbelow the first transparent conductor; asecond transparent conductor positionedbelow the p-i-n structure: and a layer oftransparent material positioned below thesecond transparent conductor. The layerof transparent material may be texturedamorphous silicon having a relatively highdielectric constant. The cell may furtherinclude a back coating positioned belowthe layer of transparent material, and a backreflector positioned below the back coatinglayer.