Hybrid CIS/Si near-IR sensor and 16% PV energy-harvesting technology

Hydrogen-plasma-enhanced Se vapor selenization is used to produce efficient Na-free CuInSe₂ (CIS) sensor and solar cell, and low temperature plasma-deposited Si thin film solar cell and transistor with 400 cm²/V-s mobility are stacked on top the CIS layer. For the first time, we report a novel stacked Si/CIS/Si solar cell design that provides 16.4%-efficient bifacial operation. Back-side Si solar cell is also an effective UV-visible band filter reducing light degradation and environmental noise on CIS image sensor. This hybrid image sensing and energy-harvesting technology is intended for applications in multi-functional panel with CIS performing both stacked solar cell and stacked TFT/sensor functions but in separate areas.