Patents by Inventor Soichiro Shibasaki

Soichiro Shibasaki 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: 11908970
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a multilayered thin film, includes: forming a photovoltaic conversion layer, comprising Cu2O as a main component, on a first transparent electrode; and placing, under a first atmosphere at an oxygen level of from 5.0×10?8 [g/L] to 5.0×10?5 [g/L] for 1 h to 1600 h, a member having the photovoltaic conversion layer formed on the first transparent electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuya Honishi, Soichiro Shibasaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshiko Hiraoka, Kazushige Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11901474
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, an n-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer located between the p-electrode and the n-electrode and mainly containing a cuprous oxide, and a first n-type layer which is located between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode, which mainly contains a compound represented by Gax1M1x2M2x3M3x4M4x5Ox6, the M1 being Hf and/or Zr, the M2 being one or more selected from the group consisting of In, Ti, and Zn, the M3 being Al and/or B, the M4 is one or more selected from the group consisting of Sn, Si, and Ge, the x1, the x2, and the x6 being more than 0, the x3, the x4, and the x5 being 0 or more, and the x6 when a sum of the x1, the x2, the x3, the x4, and the x5 is 2 being 3.0 or more and 3.8 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: KABUSAIRES KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yukitami Mizuno, Yasutaka Nishida, Kazushige Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11888076
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes: a transparent substrate; a p-electrode on the substrate, the p-electrode including a first p-electrode containing an Sn-based metal oxide, a second p-electrode having an opening and consisting of a wiring containing a metal or graphene, and a third p-electrode containing an In-based metal oxide; a p-type light absorbing layer in direct contact with a surface of the first p-electrode on a side opposite to the second p-electrode side; an n-type layer provided on the p-type light absorbing layer; and an n-electrode provided on the n-type layer. The third p-electrode is provided to be present between the first p-electrode and the second p-electrode and to be in direct contact with an upper surface of the second p-electrode. An entire side surface of the second p-electrode is in direct contact with the first p-electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshiko Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20230420592
    Abstract: A solar cell according to an embodiment includes a p? electrode, an n? electrode, a p? type light-absorbing layer on the p? electrode, and an n? type layer between the p? type light-absorbing layer and the n? electrode. A first region is included in the p? type light-absorbing layer from a surface on the n? type layer side toward the p? electrode. The first region includes n? type dopant. A thickness of the first region is 1500 [nm] or more and a thickness of the p? type light-absorbing layer [nm]. A concentration of the n? type dopant of the first region is 1.0×1014 [cm?3] or more and 1.0×1019 [cm?3] or less. The concentration of the n? type dopant of the first region and a concentration of hole of the first region satisfy 10?the concentration of the n? type dopant/the concentration of hole?5.0×1026.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Kanta Sugimoto, Yukitami Mizuno, Kazushige Yamamoto, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yasutaka Nishida, Yuya Honishi
  • Publication number: 20230387338
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solar cell includes first and second conductive layers, first and second counter conductive layers, first and second photoelectric conversion layers, first and second compound layers. The first counter conductive layer includes a first conductive region. A direction from the first conductive layer to the first conductive region is along a first direction. The first compound layer includes a first compound region provided between the first photoelectric conversion layer and the first conductive region. A second direction from the first conductive layer to the second conductive layer crosses the first direction. The second counter conductive layer includes a second conductive region electrically connected with the first conductive layer. A direction from the second conductive layer to the second conductive region is along the first direction. A direction from the first conductive region to the second conductive region is along the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Atsushi Wada, Sara Yoshio, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yukitami Mizuno, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yasutaka Nishida, Kazushige Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11817520
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stacked thin film, includes forming a photoelectric conversion layer on a first transparent electrode by sputtering using a target mainly composed of copper in an oxygen containing atmosphere. An oxygen partial pressure of the sputtering is in a range of 0.01 [Pa] or more and 4.8 [Pa] or less, and 0.24×d [Pa] or more and 2.4×d [Pa] or less when a deposition rate is d [?m/min], in formation of the photoelectric conversion layer. A sputtering temperature is 300° C. or more and 600° C. or less, in formation of the photoelectric conversion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Sara Yoshio, Yoshiko Hiraoka, Kazushige Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11810993
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer directly in contact with the p-electrode, an n-type layer, and an n-electrode. The n-type layer is disposed between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode. A region from an interface between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the p-electrode to 10 nm to 100 nm from the interface in a direction of the n-type layer is a p+ type region including a p-type dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Soichiro Shibasaki, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Sara Yoshio
  • Publication number: 20230231065
    Abstract: A tandem solar cell according to an embodiment includes a top cell string, a bottom cell string, a top cell module, a first string connection, a bottom cell module, and a second string connection. The top cell string is formed by electrically connecting a plurality of top cells. The bottom cell string is formed by electrically connecting a plurality of bottom cells. The bottom cell string is arranged so as to overlap the top cell string in a plan view in a thickness direction of the top cell. The first string connection includes a first extending portion extending to an outside of the top cell module in the plan view. A plurality of bottom cell strings are electrically connected to the bottom cell module. The first extending portion and the second extending portion are arranged apart from each other in the plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yukitami Mizuno, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yasutaka Nishida
  • Publication number: 20230215965
    Abstract: A solar cell according to an embodiment includes a p-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer containing a cuprous oxide or/and a complex oxide of cuprous oxides as a main component on the p-electrode, an n-type layer containing an oxide containing Ga on the p-type light-absorbing layer, and an n-electrode. A first region is included between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-type layer. The first region is a region from a depth of 2 nm from an interface between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-type layer toward the p-type light absorbing layer to a depth of 2 nm from the interface between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-type layer toward the n-type layer. Cu, Ga, M1, and O are contained in the first region. M1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sn, Sb, Ag, Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb, Al, In, Zn, Mg, Si, Ge, N, B, Ti, Hf, Zr, and Ca. A ratio of Cu, Ga, M1, and O is a1:b1:c1:d1. a1, b1, c1, and d1 satisfy 1.80?a1?2.20, 0.005?b1?0.05, 0?c1?0.20, and 0.60?d1?1.00.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Yukitami Mizuno, Yuya Honishi, Soichiro Shibasaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yasutaka Nishida, Mutsuki Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20230207718
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer containing a cuprous oxide and/or a complex oxide of cuprous oxides on the p-electrode, an n-type layer on the p-type light-absorbing layer, and an n-electrode, when a first region is a region of the p-type light-absorbing layer from an interface between the p-type light absorbing layer and n-type layer to a depth of 10 nm toward the p-electrode and a second region is a region of the p-type light-absorbing layer from the interface between the p-type light absorbing layer and the n-type layer to a depth of 100 nm toward the p-electrode excluding the first region, a maximum intensity of an intensity profile of a HAADF-STEM image of the first region is 95% or more and 105% or less of an average intensity of an intensity profile of a HAADF-STEM of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yukitami Mizuno, Yuya Honishi, Soichiro Shibasaki, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yasutaka Nishida, Kazushige Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230125003
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode; an n-electrode; a p-type light-absorbing layer located between the p-electrode and the n-electrode and mainly containing a cuprous oxide; and an n-type layer located between the first n-type layer and the n-electrode, the n-type layer including a first n-type layer and a second n-type layer or a first n-type region and a second n-type region; wherein the first n-type layer and the first n-type region is located on the p-type light-absorbing layer side, the second n-type layer and the second n-type region is located on the n-electrode side, the first n-type layer and the first n-type region mainly contain a compound represented by Gax1M1x2Ox3, the M1 is one or more selected from the group consisting of Hf, Zr, In, Zn, Ti, Al, B, Sn, Si, and Ge, the x1, the x2, and the x3 are more than 0, and the x3 when a sum of the x1 and the x2 is 2 is 3.0 or more and 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yukitami Mizuno, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshiko Hiraoka, Kazushige Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11626528
    Abstract: The photoelectric conversion layer of an embodiment is based on Cu2O, contains at least one p-type dopant selected from the group consisting of Ge, Ta, and In, and has a band gap of equal to or more than 2.10 eV and equal to or less than 2.30 eV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yoshiko Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20230086765
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, an n-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer located between the p-electrode and the n-electrode and mainly containing a cuprous oxide, and an n-type layer that includes a first n-type layer which is located between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode, which mainly contains a compound represented by Gav1Znv2Snv3M1v4Ov5, the M1 being one or more selected from the group consisting of Hf, Zr, In, Ti, Al, B, Mg, Si, and Ge, the v1, the v2, and the v4 being numerical values of 0.00 or more, the v3 and the v5 being numerical values of more than 0, at least one of the v1 and the v2 being a numerical value of more than 0, and the v5 when a sum of the v1, the v2, the v3, and the v4 is 1 being 1.00 or more and 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yukitami Mizuno, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yasutaka Nishida
  • Patent number: 11581444
    Abstract: The solar cell of embodiments includes a transparent first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer mainly containing cuprous oxide on the first electrode, an n-type layer on the photoelectric conversion layer, and a transparent second electrode on the n-type layer. A mixed region or/and a mixed layer are present on the n-type layer side of the photoelectric conversion layer, and the mixed region and the mixed layer contain elements belonging to a first group, a second group, and a third group. The first group is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Zn and Sn, the second group is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Y, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zr, B, Al, Ga, Nb, Mo, Ti, F, Cl, Br, and I, and the third group is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ge and Si.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Soichiro Shibasaki, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yuya Honishi, Sara Yoshio, Yoshiko Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 11563132
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes: a p-electrode in which a first p-electrode and a second p-electrode are laminated; a p-type light-absorbing layer in direct contact with the first p-electrode; an n-type layer in direct contact with the p-type light-absorbing layer; and an n-electrode. The first p-electrode is disposed between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the second p-electrode. The p-type light-absorbing layer is disposed between the n-type layer and the first p-electrode. The n-type layer is disposed between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode. The first p-electrode includes a metal oxide containing Sn as a main component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Shibasaki, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Kazushige Yamamoto, Yuya Honishi
  • Publication number: 20230017543
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, an n-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer located between the p-electrode and the n-electrode and mainly containing a cuprous oxide, and an n-type layer includes a first n-type layer which is located between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode and mainly contains a compound represented by Gax1M1x2M2x3M3x4Ox5, the M1 being Al and/or B, the M2 being one or more selected from the group consisting of In, Ti, Zn, Hf, and Zr, the M3 being one or more selected from the group consisting of Sn, Si, and Ge, the x1 and the x5 being more than 0, the x2, the x3, and the x4 being 0 or more, and the x5 when a sum of the x1, the x2, the x3, and the x4 is 2 being 3.0 or more and 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yukitami Mizuno, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshiko Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 11557688
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes: a substrate; an n-electrode; an n-type layer; a p-type light absorption layer which is a semiconductor of a Cu-based oxide; and a p-electrode. The n-electrode is disposed between the substrate and the n-type layer. The n-type layer is disposed between the n-electrode and the p-type light absorption layer. The p-type light absorption layer is disposed between the n-type layer and the p-electrode. The n-type layer is disposed closer to a light incident side than the p-type light absorption layer. The substrate is a single substrate included in the solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Soichiro Shibasaki, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yuya Honishi
  • Publication number: 20230006087
    Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, an n-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer located between the p-electrode and the n-electrode and mainly containing a cuprous oxide, and a first n-type layer which is located between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode, which mainly contains a compound represented by Gax1M1x2M2x3M3x4M4x5Ox6, the M1 being Hf and/or Zr, the M2 being one or more selected from the group consisting of In, Ti, and Zn, the M3 being Al and/or B, the M4 is one or more selected from the group consisting of Sn, Si, and Ge, the x1, the x2, and the x6 being more than 0, the x3, the x4, and the x5 being 0 or more, and the x6 when a sum of the x1, the x2, the x3, the x4, and the x5 is 2 being 3.0 or more and 3.8 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yukitami Mizuno, Yasutaka Nishida, Kazushige Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20220406957
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stacked thin film of an embodiment includes forming a p-electrode on a substrate, forming a film that mainly contains a cuprous oxide and/or a complex oxide of cuprous oxides on the p-electrode, and performing an oxidation treatment on the film that mainly contains the cuprous oxide and/or the complex oxide of cuprous oxides. An ozone partial pressure in the oxidation treatment is 5 [Pa] or more and 200 [Pa] or less, a treatment temperature in the oxidation treatment is 273 [K] or more and 323 [K] or less, and a treatment time in the oxidation treatment is 1 second or more and 60 minutes or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Yuya Honishi, Soichiro Shibasaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yukitami Mizuno, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yasutaka Nishida, Kazushige Yamamoto, Taro Asakura
  • Patent number: 11430903
    Abstract: A multi-junction solar cell module of an embodiment includes: a first solar cell module disposed on a light incident side and including a plurality of first solar cells and a first connection wiring electrically connecting the plurality of the first solar cells; a second solar cell module including a plurality of second solar cells and a second connection wiring electrically connecting the plurality of the second solar cells; and an adhesive layer between the first solar cell module and the second solar cell module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuya Honishi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Soichiro Shibasaki, Sara Yoshio, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Kazushige Yamamoto