Seebeck Solar Cell

Abstract

A Seebeck solar cell device is disclosed, combining both photovoltaic and thermoelectric techniques. The device may be formed using, for example, a conventional photovoltaic cell formed from a doped silicon wafer. The material used to form conductors to the front and rear regions of the cell are chosen for their thermoelectric characteristics, including the sign, or polarity, of their Seebeck coefficients. The distal portion of each conductor is insulated from the solar and waste heat and, in some embodiments, is also coupled to a cooling mechanism. Multiple such devices can be connected in series or parallel.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A photoactive apparatus, comprising:
 an n-type region and a p-type region,   a first conductor formed of a first thermoelectric material and coupled to said n-type region, said first thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of a first polarity, and   a second conductor formed of a second thermoelectric material and coupled to said p-type region, said second thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of a second polarity.   
     
     
         2 . The photoactive apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of said n-type region and said p-type is above the other. 
     
     
         3 . The photoactive apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein neither of said n-type region and said p-type is above the other. 
     
     
         4 . The photoactive apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first conductor is further formed of a third thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of said first polarity. 
     
     
         5 . The photoactive apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said second conductor is further formed of a fourth thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of said second polarity. 
     
     
         6 . The photoactive apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said n-type region and said p-type region is formed of an organic polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The photoactive apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said n-type region and said p-type region is formed using quantum dots. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first photoactive cell formed of a first region of a first type and a second region of a second type,   a first conductor formed of a first thermoelectric material and coupled to said first region, said first thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of a first polarity, and   a second conductor formed of a second thermoelectric material and coupled to said second region, said second thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of a second polarity.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second photoactive cell formed of a first region of a first type and a second region of a second type and electrically coupled to said first photoactive cell.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first and second photoactive cells are electrically coupled in series. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first and second photoactive cells are electrically coupled in parallel. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fabricating a photoactive apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 forming a photoactive cell having an n-type region and a p-type region;   forming a first conductor for coupling to said n-type region, said first conductor formed of a first thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of a first polarity;   forming a second conductor for coupling to said p-type region, said second conductor formed of a second thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric coefficient of a second polarity.