International Business Machines Corporation

Saurabh Singh

Teodor Krassimirov Todorov

Douglas M Bishop

Yun Seog Lee

Richard Alan Haight

Kevin W Brew

Talia S Gershon

Oki Gunawan

Priscilla D Antunez

Bruce A Ek

Ravin Mankad

Dennis Merton Newns

Semitransparent chalcogen solar cells and techniques for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a solar cell includes: forming a first transparent contact on a substrate; depositing an n-type layer on the first transparent contact; depositing a p-type chalcogen absorber layer on the n-type layer, wherein a p-n junction is formed between the p-type chalcogen absorber layer and the n-type layer; depositing a protective interlayer onto the p-type chalcogen absorber layer, wherein the protective interlayer fully covers the p-type chalcogen absorber layer; and forming a second transparent contact on the interlayer, wherein the interlayer being disposed between the p-type chalcogen absorber layer and the second transparent contact serves to protect the p-n junction during the forming of the second transparent contact. Solar cells and other methods for formation thereof are also provided.

Semitransparent chalcogen solar cell

Selenium-fullerene heterojunction solar cells and techniques for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a solar cell includes: forming a front contact on a substrate; depositing an n-type semiconducting layer on the front contact, wherein the n-type semiconducting layer comprises a fullerene or fullerene derivative; forming a p-type chalcogen absorber layer on the n-type semiconducting layer; depositing a high workfunction material onto the p-type chalcogen absorber layer, wherein the high workfunction material has a workfunction of greater than about 5.2 electron volts; and forming a back contact on the high workfunction material. Solar cells and other methods for formation thereof are also provided.

Selenium-fullerene heterojunction solar cell

Low-voltage rechargeable microbatteries are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a microbattery includes: forming a cathode on a substrate, wherein the cathode includes a lithium intercalated material; forming a solid electrolyte on the cathode; forming an anode on the solid electrolyte; and forming a negative contact on the anode. A microbattery is also provided.

Low-voltage microbattery

Low temperature techniques for forming layered lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) are provided. In one aspect, a method of synthesizing layered LCO includes: forming a metal catalyst layer (e.g., platinum) on a substrate; depositing LCO onto the metal catalyst layer; and annealing the LCO under conditions sufficient to form the layered LCO on the metal catalyst layer. An adhesion layer can be deposited on the substrate, and the metal catalyst layer can be deposited onto the adhesion layer. In another aspect, a structure is provided including: a substrate; a metal catalyst layer (e.g., platinum) disposed on the substrate; and layered LCO formed on the metal catalyst layer. An adhesion layer can be disposed between the substrate and the metal catalyst layer.

Low temperature method of forming layered HT-LiCoO

Low-voltage rechargeable microbatteries having a vanadium-based cathode are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a battery is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a first contact on a substrate; forming a cathode on the first contact, wherein the cathode is formed from a vanadium-containing material; forming a solid electrolyte on the cathode; forming an anode on the solid electrolyte; and forming a second contact on the anode. A battery having a vanadium-based cathode is also provided.

Low-voltage microbattery with vanadium-based cathode

Kesterite photovoltaic devices having a back surface field layer are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a photovoltaic device includes: forming a complete photovoltaic device having a substrate, an electrically conductive layer on the substrate, an absorber layer on the electrically conductive layer, a buffer layer on the absorber layer, and a transparent front contact on the buffer layer; removing the substrate and the electrically conductive layer from the complete photovoltaic device to expose a backside surface of the absorber layer; forming a passivating layer on the backside surface of the absorber layer; and forming a high work function back contact on the passivating layer. A photovoltaic device having a passivating layer is also provided.

Chalcogen back surface field layer

A method of preparing a AgZnSn(S,Se)compound, including dissolving selenourea (SeC(NH)) in an aprotic solvent, and dissolving a silver salt, a zinc salt, and a tin salt in the aprotic solvent with the selenourea to form a metal solution; and coating the metal solution onto a substrate to form an AgZnSn(S,Se)compound layer on the substrate.

Solution process for silver-containing chalcogenide layer deposition

Embodiments are directed to a memristive device. The memristive device includes a first conductive material layer. An oxide material layer is arranged on the first conductive layer. And a second conductive material layer is arranged on the oxide material layer, wherein the second conductive material layer comprises a metal-alkali alloy.

Memristive device based on alkali-doping of transitional metal oxides

Techniques for integrating photovoltaics into wearables, such as eyewear, are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a lens for photovoltaic eyewear includes: forming a semitransparent photovoltaic film on at least a portion of a viewable area of the lens, wherein the semitransparent photovoltaic film includes an inorganic absorber material having a band gap of from about 1.4 eV to about 2.2 eV, and ranges therebetween. The semitransparent photovoltaic film can be configured to block greater than about 99.9% UVA, UVB, and UVC light rays, and from about 95% to about 99%, and ranges therebetween, of HEV light rays from passing therethrough. Photovoltaic eyewear formed by the present techniques is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Yonkers, NY, United States of America

Saurabh Singh