New solar cell based on cooperative functioning of electrovoltaic and photovoltaic effects

S. N. Singh

doi:10.1117/12.56981

1 February 1992 New solar cell based on cooperative functioning of electrovoltaic and photovoltaic effects

S. N. Singh

Proceedings Volume 1523, Conference on Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.56981
Event: Conference on Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits, 1992, Madras, India

Abstract

We have observed for the first time in an n-p-n bipolar transistor that if one of the junctions is forward biased and the other is left unbiased, then a voltage is developed across the unbiased junction. This effect is similar to the well-known photovoltaic effect in generation of the voltage across an unbiased p-n junction but differs in the method of creation of the excess minority carrier concentration which is responsible for the generation of the voltage. We therefore refer it to as the electrovoltaic effect. In a p-n-p structure the electrovoltaic effect is due to holes. Electrovoltaic effect can have many applications alone or in combination with another effect or phenomenon. We have designed a new solar cell which is based on a combination of electrovoltaic and photovoltaic effects. This solar cell is a four-terminal device and its structure is essentially an integration of n⁺-p-n⁺ and n⁺- p-p⁺ structures into a single structure. The output power of this cell can be controlled by manipulating the contribution of the electrovoltaic effect vis-a-vis the photovoltaic effect in delivering the power to the load.

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S. N. Singh "New solar cell based on cooperative functioning of electrovoltaic and photovoltaic effects", Proc. SPIE 1523, Conference on Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits, (1 February 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.56981

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KEYWORDS

Solar cells

Photovoltaics

Transistors

Diffusion

Energy efficiency

Energy transfer

Energy conversion efficiency

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