Abstract: A low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) used in a laser power converter (LPC). The laser power converter is comprised of one or more subcells on a substrate, wherein at least one of the subcells has an emitter and base, with the low bandgap absorber region coupled between the emitter and base. The emitter and base are comprised of a material with a bandgap higher than a wavelength of incident laser light, and the low bandgap absorber region is comprised of a material with a bandgap lower than the emitter and base. The emitter and base are transparent to the incident laser light, and the low bandgap absorber region absorbs the incident laser light and generates a current in response thereto, such that the current is controlled by the material and thickness of the low bandgap absorber region. The low bandgap absorber region is configured to produce a current balanced to the subcells connected in series.

Abstract: In one aspect, optoelectronic devices are described herein. In some implementations, an optoelectronic device comprises a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell comprises a space-charge region, a quasi-neutral region, and a low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) layer or an improved transport (IT) layer at least partially positioned in the quasi-neutral region of the cell.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells including a first group-IV subcell including an n-type emitter layer comprising a first group-IV material selected from a first group consisting of Ge, SiGe and SiGeSn, and a second layer comprising a second group-IV material, the second group-IV material being different from the first group-IV material, and the n-type emitter layer being the primary photoabsorber of the first group-IV subcell. A p-n junction of the first group-IV subcell is formed at a heterojunction of the n-type emitter layer and second layer. The photovoltaic cell also includes a tunnel junction, and a second group-IV subcell, the tunnel junction interconnecting the first group IV subcell to the second group-IV subcell, the first group IV subcell and the second group IV subcell being a lowest two subcells of the photovoltaic cell, the first group IV subcell being between the second group-IV subcell and a plurality of HI-V subcells.

Abstract: A solar panel includes a front portion. The front portion includes an electrical insulation layer and a front face sheet layer coupled to the electrical insulation layer. The solar panel also includes a cell coupled to the front portion to produce a tile. The solar panel also includes a back portion coupled to the tile. The back portion includes a honeycomb core layer and a back face sheet layer coupled to the honeycomb core layer.

Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: A solar cell design includes fabricating one or more gridlines for extracting photo-current on a front surface of the solar cell, wherein each of the gridlines is a metal grid and a cap layer, and at least a portion of the metal grid is deposited on the cap layer; and controlling an alignment of the metal grid relative to the cap layer, and a width of the cap layer relative to a width of the metal grid, so that a minimum cap edge offset distance value is about 1 ?m or more. The alignment of the metal grid relative to the cap layer and the width of the cap layer relative to the width of the metal grid are controlled at areas on the front surface of the solar cell opposite where welding occurs on a back-side of the solar cell. The alignments and widths of the metal grid relative to the cap layer are controlled by a photomask.

Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: In one aspect, optoelectronic devices are described herein. In some implementations, an optoelectronic device comprises a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell comprises a space-charge region, a quasi-neutral region, and a low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) layer or an improved transport (IT) layer at least partially positioned in the quasi-neutral region of the cell.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly having a flexible circuit is described. The solar cell assembly includes a solar cell having a solar-facing surface and a non-solar-facing surface, the solar cell comprising a cell corner. The solar cell assembly further includes a flexible circuit coupled to the non-solar-facing surface of the solar. The flexible circuit is substantially coextensive with the solar cell. The flexible circuit includes a flexible insulator including a plurality of edges aligned with the solar cell, a flexible corner extending past the cell corner, and a flexible tab extending from an edge of the plurality of edges. The flexible circuit includes a circuit substantially embedded in the flexible insulator. The circuit comprises a first electric contact exposed at a solar-facing side of the flexible corner, and a second electric contact exposed at a solar-facing side of the flexible tab.

Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least one layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) cell structures are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a PV cell includes an emitter layer, a base layer adjacent to the emitter layer, and a back surface field (BSF) layer adjacent to the base layer. The BSF layer includes a first layer, and a second layer adjacent to the first layer. The first layer includes a first material and the second layer includes a second material different than the first material.

Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a first layer having a first-layer lattice parameter, a second layer having a second-layer lattice parameter different from the first-layer lattice parameter, wherein the second layer includes a photoactive second-layer material; and a third layer having a third-layer lattice parameter different from the second-layer lattice parameter, wherein the third layer includes a photoactive third-layer material. A transparent buffer layer extends between and contacts the second layer and the third layer and has a buffer-layer lattice parameter that varies with increasing distance from the second layer toward the third layer, so as to lattice match to the second layer and to the third layer. There may be additional subcell layers and buffer layers in the solar cell.

Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes a base substrate comprising a Group IV semiconductor and a dopant of a first carrier type. A patterned emitter is formed at a first surface of the base substrate. The patterned emitter comprises a plurality of well regions doped with a dopant of a second carrier type in the Group IV semiconductor. The base substrate including the patterned emitter form a first solar subcell. The multijunction solar cell further comprises an upper structure comprising one or more additional solar subcells over the first solar subcell. Methods of making a multijunction solar cell are also described.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly having a flexible circuit is described. The solar cell assembly includes a solar cell having a solar-facing surface and a non-solar-facing surface, the solar cell comprising a cell corner. The solar cell assembly further includes a flexible circuit coupled to the non-solar-facing surface of the solar. The flexible circuit is substantially coextensive with the solar cell. The flexible circuit includes a flexible insulator including a plurality of edges aligned with the solar cell, a flexible corner extending past the cell corner, and a flexible tab extending from an edge of the plurality of edges. The flexible circuit includes a circuit substantially embedded in the flexible insulator. The circuit comprises a first electric contact exposed at a solar-facing side of the flexible corner, and a second electric contact exposed at a solar-facing side of the flexible tab.

Abstract: A solar panel includes a front portion. The front portion includes an electrical insulation layer and a front face sheet layer coupled to the electrical insulation layer. The solar panel also includes a cell coupled to the front portion to produce a tile. The solar panel also includes a back portion coupled to the tile. The back portion includes a honeycomb core layer and a back face sheet layer coupled to the honeycomb core layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a solar panel includes producing a tile. Producing the tile includes bonding an electrical insulation layer and a front face sheet layer together to produce a front portion of a substrate. Producing the tile also includes bonding the front portion of the substrate and a cell together. Producing the tile also includes bonding the front portion of the substrate and a wire together. The method also includes bonding a honeycomb core layer and a back face sheet layer to produce a back portion of the substrate. The method also includes bonding the tile and the back portion of the substrate together to produce the solar panel.

Abstract: A method for producing a solar panel includes producing a tile. Producing the tile includes bonding an electrical insulation layer and a front face sheet layer together to produce a front portion of a substrate. Producing the tile also includes bonding the front portion of the substrate and a cell together. Producing the tile also includes bonding the front portion of the substrate and a wire together. The method also includes bonding a honeycomb core layer and a back face sheet layer to produce a back portion of the substrate. The method also includes bonding the tile and the back portion of the substrate together to produce the solar panel.