Abstract: A stacked multi-junction solar cell with a back-contacted front side, having a germanium substrate that forms a rear side of the multi-junction solar cell, a germanium sub-cell and at least two III-V sub-cells, successively in the named order, and at least one passage contact opening that extends from the front side of the multi-junction solar cell through the sub-cells to the rear side and a metallic connection contact that is guided through the passage contact opening. A diameter of the passage contact opening decreases in steps from the front side to the rear side of the multi-junction solar cell. The front side of the germanium sub-cell forms a first step having a first tread depth that circumferentially projects into the passage contact opening. The second step with a second tread depth circumferentially projects into the passage contact opening.

Abstract: A dicing method for separating a wafer comprising a plurality of solar cells stack along at least one parting line, at least having the steps of: providing the wafer with a top, a bottom, an adhesive layer which is integrally bonded with the top and a cover glass layer which is integrally bonded with the adhesive layer, wherein the wafer includes a plurality of solar cell stacks, each having a germanium substrate layer forming the bottom of the wafer, a germanium sub-cell and at least two III-V sub-cells; creating a separating trench along the parting line by means of laser ablation, which extends from a bottom of the wafer through the wafer and the adhesive layer at least up to a top of the cover glass layer; and dividing the cover glass layer along the separating trench.

Abstract: A metallization method for a semiconductor wafer having at least the steps: providing a semiconductor wafer having a top side and a bottom side and comprising a plurality of solar cell stacks, wherein each solar cell stack has a Ge substrate forming the bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, a Ge subcell, and at least two III-V subcells in the order mentioned, as well as at least one through-hole, extending from the top side to the bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, with a continuous side wall and a circumference that is oval in cross section, applying a photoresist layer in certain areas as a resist pattern by means of a printing method to the top side and/or to bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, applying a metal layer in a planar manner to exposed regions of the surface of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: An optocoupler having a transmitter unit and a receiver unit being electrically isolated from each other and optically coupled with each other and integrated into a shared housing. The receiver unit includes an energy source that has a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. The transmitter unit includes at least one first transmitter diode having a first optical wavelength and a second transmitter diode having a second optical wavelength. The first optical wavelength differing from the second optical wavelength by a difference wavelength, and the energy source of the receiving unit including two partial sources. The energy source being designed as a current source or as a voltage source, and the first partial source including a first semiconductor diode, and the second partial source including a second semiconductor diode. Each partial source having multiple semiconductor layers for each partial source being arranged in the shape of a stack.

Abstract: Solar cell stack comprising III-V semiconductor layers, which includes a first subcell having a first band gap and a first lattice constant and which includes a second subcell having a second band gap and a second lattice constant, and which includes an intermediate layer sequence disposed between the two solar cells. The intermediate layer sequence including a first barrier layer and a first tunnel diode and a second barrier layer, and the layers being arranged in the specified order. The tunnel diode includes a degenerate n+ layer having a third lattice constant and a degenerate p+ layer having a fourth lattice constant, the fourth lattice constant being smaller than the third lattice constant, and the first band gap being smaller than the second band gap, and the p+ layer having a different material composition than the n+ layer.

Abstract: A stack-like III-V semiconductor product comprising a substrate and a sacrificial layer region arranged on an upper side of the substrate and a semiconductor layer arranged on an upper side of the sacrificial layer region. The substrate, the sacrificial layer region and the semiconductor layer region each comprise at least one chemical element from the main groups HI and a chemical element from the main group V. The sacrificial layer region differs from the substrate and from the semiconductor layer in at least one element. An etching rate of the sacrificial layer region differs from an etching rate of the substrate and from an etching rate of the semiconductor layer region at least by a factor of ten. The sacrificial layer region is adapted in respect of its lattice to the substrate and to the semiconductor layer region.

Abstract: A scalable voltage source having a number N of mutually series-connected partial voltage sources designed as semiconductor diodes, wherein each of the partial voltage sources comprises a p-n junction of a semiconductor diode, and each semiconductor diode has a p-doped absorption layer, wherein the p-absorption layer is passivated by a p-doped passivation layer with a wider band gap than the band gap of the p-absorption layer and the semiconductor diode has an n-absorption layer, wherein the n-absorption layer is passivated by an n-doped passivation layer with a wider band gap than the band gap of the n-absorption layer, and the partial source voltages of the individual partial voltage sources deviate by less than 20%, and between in each case two successive partial voltage sources, a tunnel diode is arranged.

Abstract: A stacked multi-junction solar cell comprising a stack composed of a bottom subcell, at least one middle subcell, and a top subcell, wherein each subcell has an emitter and a base at least the top subcell is made of a III-V semiconductor material or includes a III-V semiconductor material, and the emitter of the top subcell includes a superlattice.

Abstract: A multi-junction solar cell having a first subcell made of an InGaAs compound. The first subcell has a first lattice constant and A second subcell has a second lattice constant. The first lattice constant is at least 0.008 ? greater than the second lattice constant. A metamorphic buffer is formed between the first subcell and the second subcell and has a sequence of at least three layers and a lattice constant increases from layer to layer in the sequence in the direction toward the first subcell. The lattice constants of the layers of the buffer are greater than the second lattice constant, and a layer of the metamorphic buffer has a third lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant. A number N of compensation layers for compensating the residual stress of the metamorphic buffer is formed between the metamorphic buffer and the first subcell.

Abstract: A stacked, high-blocking III-V semiconductor power diode having a first metallic terminal contact layer, formed at least in regions, and a highly doped semiconductor contact region of a first conductivity type and a first lattice constant. A drift layer of a second conductivity type and having a first lattice constant is furthermore provided. A semiconductor contact layer of a second conductivity, which includes an upper side and an underside, and a second metallic terminal contact layer are formed, and the second metallic terminal contact layer being integrally connected to the underside of the semiconductor contact layer, and the semiconductor contact layer having a second lattice constant at least on the underside, and the second lattice constant being the lattice constant of InP, and the drift layer and the highly doped semiconductor contact region each comprising an InGaAs compound or being made up of InGaAs.

Abstract: A stacked high barrier III-V power semiconductor diode having an at least regionally formed first metallic terminal contact layer and a heavily doped semiconductor contact region of a first conductivity type with a first lattice constant, a drift layer of a second conductivity type, a heavily doped metamorphic buffer layer sequence of the second conductivity type is formed. The metamorphic buffer layer sequence has an upper side with the first lattice constant and a lower side with a second lattice constant. The first lattice constant is greater than the second lattice constant. The upper side of the metamorphic buffer layer sequence is arranged in the direction of the drift layer. A second metallic terminal contact layer is arranged below the lower side of the metamorphic buffer layer sequence. The second metallic terminal contact layer is integrally bonded with a semiconductor contact layer.

Abstract: A stacked, monolithic, upright metamorphic, terrestrial concentrator solar cell having exactly five subcells and having a metamorphic buffer, wherein a first subcell has a first lattice constant G1 and consists essentially of germanium, a second subcell has a second lattice constant and GaInAs, a third subcell has the second lattice constant G2 and AlGaInAs, a fourth subcell has the second lattice constant G2 and InP, a fifth subcell has the second lattice constant G2 and InP, G1<G2 applies to the lattice constants, the metamorphic buffer is arranged between the first subcell and the second subcell and has the first lattice constant G1 on a bottom side facing the first subcell and the second lattice constant G2 on a top side facing the second subcell, and all of the semiconductor layers of the concentrator solar cell arranged above the first subcell are epitaxially produced on the preceding subcell.

Abstract: A device having a multi-junction solar cell and a protection diode structure, whereby the multi-junction solar cell and the protection diode structure have a common rear surface and front sides separated by a mesa trench. The common rear surface comprises an electrically conductive layer, and the light enters through the front side into the multi-junction solar cell. The cell includes a stack of a plurality of solar cells, and has a top cell, placed closest to the front side, and a bottom solar cell, placed closest to the rear side, and a tunnel diode is placed between adjacent solar cells. The number of semiconductor layers in the protection diode structure is smaller than the number of semiconductor layers in the multi-junction solar cell. The sequence of the semiconductor layers in the protection diode structure corresponds to the sequence of semiconductor layers of the multi-junction solar cell.

Abstract: A stacked multi-junction solar cell with a first subcell having a top and a bottom, and with a second subcell. The first subcell is implemented as the topmost subcell so that incident light first strikes the top of the first subcell and after that strikes the second subcell through the bottom. A first tunnel diode is arranged between the bottom of the first subcell and the second subcell. A window layer is arranged on the top of the first subcell, and the band gap of the window layer is larger than the band gap of the first subcell. A cover layer is arranged below metal fingers and above the window layer, and an additional layer is arranged below the cover layer and above the window layer. A thickness of the additional layer is less than the thickness of the window layer.

Abstract: A stacked monolithic upright metamorphic multijunction solar cell, comprising at least one first subcell having a first band gap, a first lattice constant and being made up of germanium by more than 50%, a second subcell, which is disposed above the first subcell and has a second band gap and a second lattice constant, a metamorphic buffer disposed between the first subcell and the second subcell, including a sequence of at least three layers having lattice constants which increase from layer to layer in the direction of the second subcell, and a first tunnel diode, which is situated between the metamorphic buffer and the second subcell and which has an n+ layer and a p+ layer, the second band gap being larger than the first band gap, the n+ layer of the first tunnel diode comprising InAlP, the p+ layer of the first tunnel diode comprising an As-containing III-V material.

Abstract: An optical receiver component, wherein the receiver component comprises a first type of partial-voltage source with a first absorption edge and a second type of partial-voltage source with a second absorption edge, and the first absorption edge lies at a higher energy than the second absorption edge. Each partial-voltage source produces a partial voltage, provided a photon flux at a specific wavelength strikes the partial-voltage source, and the two partial-voltage sources are connected in series. A first number of series-connected sub-partial-voltage sources of the first type and a second number of series-connected sub-partial-voltage sources of the second type are provided. The first number and/or the second number are greater than one, and the respective deviation of the source voltages of the sub-partial-voltage sources among themselves is less than 20% in both types. Each sub-partial-voltage source comprises a semiconductor diode with a p-n junction.

Abstract: A solar cell stack having a first semiconductor solar cell that has a p-n junction of a first material with a first lattice constant and a second semiconductor solar cell that has a p-n junction of a second material with a second lattice constant. The solar cell stack has a metamorphic buffer that includes a sequence of a first, lower layer and a second, center layer, and a third, upper layer, and includes an InGaAs or an AlInGaAs or an InGaP or an AlInGaP compound. The metamorphic buffer is formed between the first and second semiconductor solar cells and the lattice constant in the metamorphic buffer changes along the buffer's thickness dimension. The lattice constant of the third layer is greater than the lattice constant of the second layer, and the lattice constant of the second layer is greater than the lattice constant of the first layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a light-emitting diode with a stacked structure, having a first region and a second region and a third region, wherein all three regions have a substrate and an n-doped lower cladding layer and an active layer generating electromagnetic radiation, wherein the active layer includes a quantum well structure, and a p-doped upper cladding layer, and the first region additionally has a tunnel diode formed on the upper cladding layer and composed of a p+ layer and an n+ layer, and an n-doped current distribution layer. The current distribution layer and the n-doped contact layer are covered with a conductive trace. At least the lower cladding layer, the active layer, the upper cladding layer, the tunnel diode, and the current distribution layer are monolithic in design. The second region has a contact hole with a bottom region.

Abstract: An optical voltage source and decoupling device is provided, wherein the optical voltage source has a number N of series-connected semiconductor diodes, each having a p-n junction, the semiconductor diodes are monolithically integrated and together form a first stack with an upper side and an underside, and the number N of the semiconductor diodes of the first stack is greater than or equal to two, the decoupling device has a further semiconductor diode. The further semiconductor diode has a pin junction and, the further semiconductor diode is anti-serially connected with the semiconductor diodes of the first stack. An underside of the further semiconductor diode is materially connected with the upper side of the first stack and the further semiconductor diode forms a total stack together with the first stack.

Abstract: A light receiving unit having a first energy source made up of two sub sources. A first terminal contact is formed at the upper face of the first sub source and a second terminal contact is formed at the lower face of the second sub source. The sub source has at least one semiconductor diode that has an absorption edge adapted to a first wavelength of light and the second semiconductor diode has an absorption edge adapted to a second wavelength of light which is different from the first wavelength of light, such that the first sub source generates electric voltage upon being irradiated with the first wavelength of light and the second sub source generates electric voltage upon being irradiated with the second wavelength of light.