A New Approach to an Efficient and Low-Cost Solid Solar Cell by Employing a Semiconductor Coated with Ultrafine Metal Islands

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Abstract
Solar cells based on a new junction, “transparent conductor/thin insulator having ultrafine conductive channels/semiconductor” (C/IC/S), are proposed. This proposal is based on our previous finding that photoelectrochemical cells made of semiconductor electrodes covered with very fine metal islands generate remarkably high photovoltages. A solid-state cell was constructed by depositing platinum islands on n-type silicon, oxidizing the naked part, and depositing a thin gold film above it. The result proved the effectiveness of the metal islands, leading to the development of silicon solar cells of a new type having high conversion efficiencies.