Patents by Inventor Cosimo Gerardi

Cosimo Gerardi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12677521
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell comprising at least one photovoltaic absorber layer based on lead halide perovskite comprising, in turn, a lead halide perovskite layer and a protection edge arranged so as to peripherally at least partially surround the lead halide perovskite layer and consisting of a material having at 25° C. a solubility in water that is equal to or smaller than 5*10-4 mol/kg. The protection material is exclusively present in the protection edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: 3SUN S.r.l.
    Inventors: Diego Di Girolamo, Giuliana Giuliano, Marina Foti, Cosimo Gerardi
  • Patent number: 12520651
    Abstract: In multijunction photovoltaic cells, such as for example tandem solar cells having a top sub-cell and a crystalline silicon based bottom sub-cell, efficiency of conversion of solar energy into electrical energy is limited mainly by the junction between a top sub-cell and a bottom sub-cell of the multijunction photovoltaic cell. A multijunction photovoltaic cell of this disclosure at least partially overcomes this drawback because it has an intermediate layer of silicon nitride deposited in a conformal manner with a thickness of between 1 and 10 nm so as to define a P-N tunnel junction between the top sub-cell and the bottom sub-cell. A related fabrication process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: 3SUN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Condorelli, Grazia Litrico, Salvatore Bellino, Alfredo Di Matteo, Alessandro Furnari, Cosimo Gerardi
  • Publication number: 20250221140
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell comprising at least one photovoltaic absorber layer based on lead halide perovskite comprising, in turn, a lead halide perovskite layer and a protection edge arranged so as to peripherally at least partially surround the lead halide perovskite layer and consisting of a material having at 25° C. a solubility in water that is equal to or smaller than 5*10-4 mol/kg. The protection material is exclusively present in the protection edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2024
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Applicant: 3SUN S.r.l.
    Inventors: Diego DI GIROLAMO, Giuliana GIULIANO, Marina FOTI, Cosimo GERARDI
  • Patent number: 12284842
    Abstract: A solar cell including at least a first layer made of a semiconductor material for absorbing photons from light radiation and releasing charge carriers, and at least one conductive layer, overlapping the first layer, adapted to allow the light radiation to enter into the solar cell towards the first layer and to collect the charge carriers released by the first layer, the solar cell where the conductive layer includes at least three overlapped layers, including a transparent intermediate metal layer, made of metal, and two transparent oxide layers, made of a conductive oxide, where the two oxide layers are an inner oxide layer and an outer oxide layer surrounding the transparent intermediate metal layer to provide a low resistance path for the electrical charges and to maximize the amount of light radiation entering the solar cell. The embodiments also include a solar cells module including said solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: 3SUN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marcello Sciuto, Andrea Canino, Giuseppe Condorelli, Cosimo Gerardi, Antonio Terrasi, Giacomo Torrisi, Anna Battaglia
  • Publication number: 20250089381
    Abstract: Photovoltaic module including at least one string including at least one first and one second photovoltaic cell and a connector that electrically couples the first and the second photovoltaic cell. The first and the second photovoltaic cells each comprise: a respective photovoltaic conversion region delimited by a respective main front surface and a respective main rear surface opposite to each other; and a respective first electrode structure and a respective second electrode structure, which are formed of conductive material and extend respectively on the first and on the main rear surface. The photovoltaic module is characterised in that the connector is made of a composite material comprising a support matrix and electrically conductive particles, which are dispersed in the thermoplastic polymer matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: 3SUN S.r.l.
    Inventors: Benedetto MAUGERI, Francesco RUSSO, Gaetano IZZO, Cosimo GERARDI, Lorenzo CARBONE
  • Patent number: 12166143
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell may include a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer including a n-type doped region and a p-type doped region. The n-type doped region may be separated from the p-type doped region by an intrinsic region. The photovoltaic cell may include a front transparent electrode connected to the n-type doped region, and a rear electrode connected to the p-type doped region. The efficiency may be optimized for indoor lighting values by tuning the value of the H2/SiH4 ratio of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Cosimo Gerardi, Cristina Tringali, Sebastiano Ravesi, Marina Foti, NoemiGraziana Sparta′, Corrado Accardi, Stella Loverso
  • Publication number: 20240365570
    Abstract: In multijunction photovoltaic cells, such as for example tandem solar cells having a top sub-cell and a crystalline silicon based bottom sub-cell, efficiency of conversion of solar energy into electrical energy is limited mainly by the junction between a top sub-cell and a bottom sub-cell of the multijunction photovoltaic cell. A multijunction photovoltaic cell of this disclosure at least partially overcomes this drawback because it has an intermediate layer of silicon nitride deposited in a conformal manner with a thickness of between 1 and 10 nm so as to define a P-N tunnel junction between the top sub-cell and the bottom sub-cell. A related fabrication process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: 3SUN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe CONDORELLI, Grazia LITRICO, Salvatore BELLINO, Alfedo DI MATTEO, Alessandro FURNARI, Cosimo GERARDI
  • Publication number: 20230231062
    Abstract: A solar cell including at least a first layer made of a semiconductor material for absorbing photons from light radiation and releasing charge carriers, and at least one conductive layer, overlapping the first layer, adapted to allow the light radiation to enter into the solar cell towards the first layer and to collect the charge carriers released by the first layer, the solar cell where the conductive layer includes at least three overlapped layers, including a transparent intermediate metal layer, made of metal, and two transparent oxide layers, made of a conductive oxide, where the two oxide layers are an inner oxide layer and an outer oxide layer surrounding the transparent intermediate metal layer to provide a low resistance path for the electrical charges and to maximize the amount of light radiation entering the solar cell. The embodiments also include a solar cells module including said solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: 3SUN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marcello SCIUTO, Andrea CANINO, Giuseppe CONDORELLI, Cosimo GERARDI, Antonio TERRASI, Giacomo TORRISI, Anna BATTAGLIA
  • Patent number: 11670729
    Abstract: A solar cell apparatus 100 and a method for forming said solar cell apparatus 100, comprising a substrate 101, a n-type transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer 102 deposited atop said substrate 101, a p-i-n structure 200 that includes a p-type layer 103, an i-type layer 104, a n-type layer 105, a metal back layer 106 deposited atop said n-type layer 105 of the p-i-n structure 200. The n-type layer 105 comprises n-type donors 115 including phosphorus atoms. The n-type donors 115 include oxygen atoms at an atomic concentration comprised between 5% and 25% of the overall atomic composition of the n-type layer 105.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Sun S.R.L.
    Inventors: Anna Battaglia, Cosimo Gerardi, Giuseppe Condorelli, Andrea Canino
  • Publication number: 20220199846
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell may include a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer including a n-type doped region and a p-type doped region. The n-type doped region may be separated from the p-type doped region by an intrinsic region. The photovoltaic cell may include a front transparent electrode connected to the n-type doped region, and a rear electrode connected to the p-type doped region. The efficiency may be optimized for indoor lighting values by tuning the value of the H2/SiH4 ratio of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Cosimo Gerardi, Cristina Tringali, Sebastiano Ravesi, Marina Foti, NoemiGraziana Sparta', Corrado Accardi, Stella Loverso
  • Patent number: 11257975
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell may include a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer including a n-type doped region and a p-type doped region. The n-type doped region may be separated from the p-type doped region by an intrinsic region. The photovoltaic cell may include a front transparent electrode connected to the n-type doped region, and a rear electrode connected to the p-type doped region. The efficiency may be optimized for indoor lighting values by tuning the value of the H2/SiH4 ratio of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Cosimo Gerardi, Cristina Tringali, Sebastiano Ravesi, Marina Foti, NoemiGraziana Sparta', Corrado Accardi, Stella Loverso
  • Publication number: 20210296522
    Abstract: A solar cell apparatus 100 and a method for forming said solar cell apparatus 100, comprising a substrate 101, a n-type transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer 102 deposited atop said substrate 101, a p-i-n structure 200 that includes a p-type layer 103, an i-type layer 104, a n-type layer 105, a metal back layer 106 deposited atop said n-type layer 105 of the p-i-n structure 200. The n-type layer 105 comprises n-type donors 115 including phosphorus atoms. The n-type donors 115 include oxygen atoms at an atomic concentration comprised between 5% and 25% of the overall atomic composition of the n-type layer 105.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Anna BATTAGLIA, Cosimo GERARDI, Giuseppe CONFORELLI, Andrea CANINO
  • Publication number: 20190172961
    Abstract: Solar thin film modules are provided with reduced lateral dimensions of isolation trenches and contact trenches, which provide for a series connection of the individual solar cells. To this end lithography and etch techniques are applied to pattern the individual material layers, thereby reducing parasitic shunt leakages compared to conventional laser scribing techniques. In particular, there may be series connected solar cells formed on a flexible substrate material that are highly efficient in indoor applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Marina Foti, Cosimo Gerardi, Salvatore Lombardo, Sebastiano Ravesi, NoemiGraziana Sparta', Silvestra Dimarco
  • Patent number: 10256356
    Abstract: Solar thin film modules are provided with reduced lateral dimensions of isolation trenches and contact trenches, which provide for a series connection of the individual solar cells. To this end lithography and etch techniques are applied to pattern the individual material layers, thereby reducing parasitic shunt leakages compared to conventional laser scribing techniques. In particular, there may be series connected solar cells formed on a flexible substrate material that are highly efficient in indoor applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marina Foti, Noemi Graziana Sparta′, Salvatore Lombardo, Silvestra DiMarco, Sebastiano Ravesi, Cosimo Gerardi
  • Publication number: 20190097074
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell may include a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer including a n-type doped region and a p-type doped region. The n-type doped region may be separated from the p-type doped region by an intrinsic region. The photovoltaic cell may include a front transparent electrode connected to the n-type doped region, and a rear electrode connected to the p-type doped region. The efficiency may be optimized for indoor lighting values by tuning the value of the H2/SiH4 ratio of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Cosimo Gerardi, Cristina Tringali, Sebastiano Ravesi, Marina Foti, NoemiGraziana Sparta', Corrado Accardi, Stella Loverso
  • Patent number: 10128396
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell may include a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer including a n-type doped region and a p-type doped region. The n-type doped region may be separated from the p-type doped region by an intrinsic region. The photovoltaic cell may include a front transparent electrode connected to the n-type doped region, and a rear electrode connected to the p-type doped region. The efficiency may be optimized for indoor lighting values by tuning the value of the H2/SiH4 ratio of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Cosimo Gerardi, Cristina Tringali, Sebastiano Ravesi, Marina Foti, NoemiGraziana Sparta′, Corrado Accardi, Stella Loverso
  • Patent number: 10103281
    Abstract: A thin film amorphous silicon solar cell may have front contact between a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer. The cell may include a layer of a refractory metal, chosen among the group composed of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and titanium, of thickness adapted to ensure a light transmittance of at least 80%, interposed therebetween, before growing by PECVD a hydrogenated amorphous silicon p-i-n light absorption layer over it. A refractory metal layer of just about 1 nm thickness may effectively shield the oxide from the reactive plasma, thereby preventing a diffused defect when forming the p.i.n. layer that would favor recombination of light-generated charge carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Salvatore Lombardo, Cosimo Gerardi, Sebastiano Ravesi, Marina Foti, Cristina Tringali, Stella Loverso, Nicola Costa
  • Publication number: 20160079453
    Abstract: A thin film amorphous silicon solar cell may have front contact between a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer. The cell may include a layer of a refractory metal, chosen among the group composed of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and titanium, of thickness adapted to ensure a light transmittance of at least 80%, interposed therebetween, before growing by PECVD a hydrogenated amorphous silicon p-i-n light absorption layer over it. A refractory metal layer of just about 1 nm thickness may effectively shield the oxide from the reactive plasma, thereby preventing a diffused defect when forming the p.i.n. layer that would favor recombination of light-generated charge carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: SALVATORE LOMBARDO, COSIMO GERARDI, SEBASTIANO RAVESI, MARINA FOTI, CRISTINA TRINGALI, STELLA LOVERSO, NICOLA COSTA
  • Publication number: 20160079457
    Abstract: Solar thin film modules are provided with reduced lateral dimensions of isolation trenches and contact trenches, which provide for a series connection of the individual solar cells. To this end lithography and etch techniques are applied to pattern the individual material layers, thereby reducing parasitic shunt leakages compared to conventional laser scribing techniques. In particular, there may be series connected solar cells formed on a flexible substrate material that are highly efficient in indoor applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: MARINA FOTI, NOEMI GRAZIANA SPARTA', SALVATORE LOMBARDO, SILVESTRA DIMARCO, SEBASTIANO RAVESI, COSIMO GERARDI
  • Patent number: 9276149
    Abstract: Solar thin film modules are provided with reduced lateral dimensions of isolation trenches and contact trenches, which provide for a series connection of the individual solar cells. To this end lithography and etch techniques are applied to pattern the individual material layers, thereby reducing parasitic shunt leakages compared to conventional laser scribing techniques. In particular, there may be series connected solar cells formed on a flexible substrate material that are highly efficient in indoor applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marina Foti, Noemi Graziana Sparta, Salvatore Lombardo, Silvestra Dimarco, Sebastiano Ravesi, Cosimo Gerardi