DIELECTRIC-PASSIVATED METAL INSULATOR PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR CELLS

摘要

A photovoltaic solar cell is described that, according to one example embodiment, includes a semiconductor light absorbing layer and a dielectric stack on at least one of a front side of the light absorbing layer or a back side of the light absorbing layer. The dielectric stack includes a tunneling dielectric layer being sufficiently thin for charge carriers to tunnel across, and an overlaying dielectric layer being a different material than the overlaying dielectric. The solar cell also includes an electrically conductive contact physically contacting the overlaying dielectric. The electrically conductive contact and the overlaying dielectric together have either a work function suitable for selective collection of electrons that closely matches a conduction band of the light absorbing layer, or a work function suitable for selective collection of holes that closely matches a valence band of the light absorbing layer.