Method To Synthesize Colloidal Iron Pyrite Nanocrystals And Fabricate Thin Film Solar Cells Of Same
- Technology Benefits
- The great potential of pyrite lies in its superior scalability to terawatt (TW) levels of solar energy conversion than existing thin film technologies and its much lower cost than silicon.
- Technology Application
- Terawatt level energy generation.
- Detailed Technology Description
- Pyrite iron persulfide is an under-researched, extremely promising semiconductor for use as the light-absorbing layer in thin-film photovoltaics (PV). University researchers have invented the first method to produce phase pure, colloidal pyrite nanocrystals on a large scale for use in thin film solar cells. Pyrite nanocrystals (NCs) are of particular interest for low-cost solar energy conversion because of the prospect of fabricating inexpensive, large-area modules by the roll-to-roll printing or spraying of NC “solar paint” onto flexible metal foils. Nanocrystal-based devices can achieve excellent manufacturing scalability at lower cost ($/Wp) than conventional single-crystal Si and existing thin film technologies. Furthermore, university researchers have conceived of all the steps needed to manufacture an efficient, low-cost p-n heterojunction solar cell from this pyrite paint. Nanocrystalline pyrite films are made by dip coating, inkjet printing, or doctor blading the paint/paste onto stainless foil. These films are sintered in special gas mixtures to yield stoichiometric polycrystalline pyrite films with carrier diffusion lengths that are significantly longer than the average optical absorption length. The surfaces of the films are then passivated chemically to increase the surface band gap and reduce the surface recombination velocity. The heterojunction partner is a window layer deposited by chemical bath deposition (CVD) or another method. The transparent top contact is made by sputtering, CBD, ALD, or another method. Since this pyrite cell design mimics commercialized CdTe and CIGS technology, this technology can be quickly incorporated into existing production lines.
- Supplementary Information
- Patent Number: US20110240108A1
Application Number: US13079697A
Inventor: Law, Matt | Seefeld, Sean | Puthussery, James
Priority Date: 2 Apr 2010
Priority Number: US20110240108A1
Application Date: 4 Apr 2011
Publication Date: 6 Oct 2011
IPC Current: H01L003106 | B05D000302 | B05D000304 | B05D000312 | B05D000512 | C01G004912 | C23C001630 | H01L00310392 | B82Y004000
US Class: 136255 | 423565 | 427074 | 4271261 | 427240 | 4272481 | 427377 | 977896
Title: Method To Synthesize Colloidal Iron Pyrite (FeS2) Nanocrystals And Fabricate Iron Pyrite Thin Film Solar Cells
Usefulness: Method To Synthesize Colloidal Iron Pyrite (FeS2) Nanocrystals And Fabricate Iron Pyrite Thin Film Solar Cells
Summary: Used as a pyrite heterojunction thin film photovoltaic device such as solar cell.
Novelty: Pyrite heterojunction thin film photovoltaic device such as solar cell comprises conductive bottom substrate acting as electrical contact, pyrite thin film, semiconductor window layer, transparent top contact, and encapsulation layer
- Industry
- Environmental/Green Technology
- Sub Category
- Solar Cell
- Application No.
- 9862617
- Others
-
Additional Technologies by these Inventors
Tech ID/UC Case
22007/2010-158-0
Related Cases
2010-158-0
- *Abstract
-
A scheme to produce colloidal nanocrystals of iron pyrite (FeS2) and a p-n heterojunction thin film solar cell based on sintered films of these nanocrystals on flexible substrates.
- *IP Issue Date
- Jan 9, 2018
- *Principal Investigator
-
Name: Matthew Law
Department:
Name: James Puthussery
Department:
Name: Sean Seefeld
Department:
- Country/Region
- USA
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