(WO9516279-A1)      The concrete solar cell (10) comprises a photovoltaic material embedded in and extending beyond the major surfaces (16 and 18) of a matrix layer (14). The matrix layer typically comprises a high strength, cementitious material, such as a macro-defect free cement. The photovoltaic material comprises particles (12) of high-resistivity single crystal silicon, typically ball milled from ingot sections unsuitable for slicing into silicon wafers.    The ingot sections include non-precipitated dissolved oxygen that is electrically activated by a low temperature annealing process to produce n-type silicon, even in silicon crystals that include a p-type dopant. An aluminum sheet (28), positioned on the backside of the matrix layer, is briefly melted together with the silicon particles to produce a p-type aluminum-doped silicon region (22) that forms a pn junction with the n-type region (24) of the particle. The aluminum sheet also provides the electrical contact to the p-type regions. A voltage is generated between the two conductive layers when light incident on the photovoltaic particle through the indium tin oxide conductive layer creates charge carriers.    ADVANTAGE -   Functions with little or no maintenance for extended periods in outdoor environments. Reduces cost of disposing scrap silicon produced during mfr. of silicon wafers, and thus provides inexpensive solar cell.    (DE4499682-T)      The concrete solar cell (10) comprises a photovoltaic material embedded in and extending beyond the major surfaces (16 and 18) of a matrix layer (14). The matrix layer typically comprises a high strength, cementitious material, such as a macro-defect free cement. The photovoltaic material comprises particles (12) of high-resistivity single crystal silicon, typically ball milled from ingot sections unsuitable for slicing into silicon wafers.    The ingot sections include unprecipitated dissolved oxygen that is electrically activated by a low temperature annealing process to produce n-type silicon, even in silicon crystals that include a p-type dopant. An aluminum sheet (28), positioned on the backside of the matrix layer, is briefly melted together with the silicon particles to produce a p-type aluminum-doped silicon region (22) that forms a pn junction with the n-type region (24) of the particle. The aluminum sheet also provides the electrical contact to the p-type regions. A voltage is generated between the two conductive layers when light incident on the photovoltaic particle through the indium tin oxide conductive layer creates charge carriers.    ADVANTAGE -   Functions with little or no maintenance fo extended periods in outdoor environments. Reduces cost of disposing scrap silicon produced during mfr. of silicon wafers, and thus provides inexpensive solar cell.    (NL9420039-A)      The concrete solar cell (10) comprises a photovoltaic material embedded in and extending beyond the major surfaces (16 and 18) of a matrix layer (14). The matrix layer typically comprises a high strength, cementitious material, such as a macro-defect free cement. The photovoltaic material comprises particles (12) of high-resistivity single crystal silicon, typically ball milled from ingot sections unsuitable for slicing into silicon wafers.    The ingot sections include unprecipitated dissolved oxygen that is electrically activated by a low temperature annealing process to produce n-type silicon, even in silicon crystals that include a p-type dopant. An aluminum sheet (28), positioned on the backside of the matrix layer, is briefly melted together with the silicon particles to produce a p-type aluminum-doped silicon region (22) that forms a pn junction with the n-type region (24) of the particle. The aluminum sheet also provides the electrical contact to the p-type regions. A voltage is generated between the two conductive layers when light incident on the photovoltaic particle through the indium tin oxide conductive layer creates charge carriers.    ADVANTAGE -   Functions with little or no maintenance fo extended periods in outdoor environments. Reduces cost of disposing scrap silicon produced during mfr. of silicon wafers, and thus provides inexpensive solar cell.    (JP9506472-W)      The concrete solar cell (10) comprises a photovoltaic material embedded in and extending beyond the major surfaces (16 and 18) of a matrix layer (14). The matrix layer typically comprises a high strength, cementitious material, such as a macro-defect free cement. The photovoltaic material comprises particles (12) of high-resistivity single crystal silicon, typically ball milled from ingot sections unsuitable for slicing into silicon wafers.    The ingot sections include unprecipitated dissolved oxygen that is electrically activated by a low temperature annealing process to produce n-type silicon, even in silicon crystals that include a p-type dopant. An aluminum sheet (28), positioned on the backside of the matrix layer, is briefly melted together with the silicon particles to produce a p-type aluminum-doped silicon region (22) that forms a pn junction with the n-type region (24) of the particle. The aluminum sheet also provides the electrical contact to the p-type regions. A voltage is generated between the two conductive layers when light incident on the photovoltaic particle through the indium tin oxide conductive layer creates charge carriers.    ADVANTAGE -   Functions with little or no maintenance fo extended periods in outdoor environments. Reduces cost of disposing scrap silicon produced during mfr. of silicon wafers, and thus provides inexpensive solar cell.