Apparatus and method for photovoltaic energy production based on internal charge emission in a solid-state heterostructure

Abstract

An apparatus and method for solar energy production comprises a multi-layer solid-state structure including a photosensitive layer, a thin conductor, a charge separation layer, and a back ohmic conductor, wherein light absorption occurs in a photosensitive layer and the charge carriers produced thereby are transported through the thin conductor through the adjacent potential energy barrier. The open circuit voltage of the solar cell can be manipulated by choosing from among a wide selection of materials making up the thin conductor, the charge separation layer, and the back ohmic layer.

1 . A multi-layer solid-state device for producing electrical power from light comprising: 
 an electrically conductive layer having first and second sides;    a light energy conversion layer secured to the first side of the electrically conductive layer;    a charge separation layer secured to the second side of the electrically conductive layer;    the electrically conductive layer for ballistically transporting charge characters from the light energy conversion layer to the charged separation layer thereby eliminating the need for an electrolyte for producing electrical power from light impinging upon the light energy conversion layer; and    the electrically conductive layer and the charged separation layer defining a metal-insulator-semiconductor junction.    
     
     
         2 . A multi-layer solid-state device for producing electrical power from light comprising: 
 an ultra-thin, two-sided, electrically conductive front contact layer having first and second sides;    a light energy conversion layer comprising photosensitive means secured to the first side of the electrically conductive layer;    a semiconductive charge separation layer having first and second sides;    the first side of the semiconductor charge separation layer being secured to the second side of the electrically conductive layer;    the electrically conductive layer ballistically transporting electrical energy from the light energy conversion layer to the charged separation layer thereby eliminating the need for an electrolyte when producing electrical power from light impinging on the light energy conversion layer;    and electrically conductive metal back contact secured to the second side of the charged separation layer; and    the electrically conductive layer in the semiconductor charged separation layer defining a metal-insulator-semiconductor junction which maximizes power output.