| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20130040419 | Selenium/group 1B ink and methods of making and using same - A method for preparing a Group 1a-1b-3a-6a material using a selenium/Group 1b ink comprising, as initial components: a selenium component comprising selenium, an organic chalcogenide component having a formula selected from RZ—Z′R′ and R | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130040420 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROCESSING A PRECURSOR LAYER IN A GROUP VIA ENVIRONMENT - A precursor layer for a photovoltaic absorber layer on a substrate is formed, where the precursor layer comprises group IB and IIIA elements. The precursor layer is heated in an elongate furnace, where the heating includes depositing a group VIA-based material on the precursor layer. The substrate is placed on a support and advanced through the furnace. The support has an anti-stiction surface of a material including at least one of: silicon carbide, glass, spin-on-glass (SOG), diamond-like carbon (DLC), silicon carbide (SiC), a hydrogenated diamond coating, pyrolytic carbon and a fluoropolymer. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20090117684 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM CHALCOGENIDE LAYERS - A multilayer structure to form absorber layers for solar cells. The multilayer structure includes a base comprising a contact layer on a substrate layer, a first layer on the contact layer, and a metallic layer on the first layer. The first layer includes an indium-gallium-selenide film and the gallium to indium molar ratio of the indium-gallium-selenide film is in the range of 0 to 0.8. The metallic layer includes gallium and indium without selenium. Additional selenium is deposited onto the metallic layer before annealing the structure for forming an absorber. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20130078757 | METHODS OF MAKING PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - One aspect of the present invention includes a method of making a photovoltaic device. The method includes disposing an absorber layer on a window layer. The method further includes treating at least a portion of the absorber layer with a first solution including a first metal salt to form a first component, wherein the first metal salt comprises a first metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, cobalt, chromium, zinc, indium, tungsten, molybdenum, and combinations thereof. The method further includes treating at least a portion of the first component with cadmium chloride to form a second component. The method further includes treating at least a portion of the second component with a second solution including a second metal salt to form an interfacial layer on the second component, wherein the second metal salt comprises a second metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, and combinations thereof. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130034933 | Dichalcogenide selenium ink and methods of making and using same - A method for preparing a Group 1a-1b-3a-6a material using a selenium ink comprising a chemical compound having a formula RZ—Se | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130040418 | PRECURSORS AND USES FOR CIS AND CIGS PHOTOVOLTAICS - Methods for photovoltaic absorber materials for uses including solar cells. The methods include depositing onto a substrate an ink comprising one or more compounds having the formula M | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130029454 | METHOD FOR MAKING PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A method for making a photovoltaic device is presented. The method includes steps of disposing a window layer on a substrate and disposing an absorber layer on the window layer. Disposing the window layer, the absorber layer, or both layers includes introducing a source material into a deposition zone, wherein the source material comprises oxygen and a constituent of the window layer, of the absorber layer or of both layers. The method further includes step of depositing a film that comprises the constituent and oxygen. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130045565 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HIGH DENSITY CIS THIN FILM FOR SOLAR CELL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THIN FILM SOLAR CELL USING THE SAME - Disclosed are a high density CIS thin film and a method of manufacturing the same, which includes coating CIS nanopowders, CIGS nanopowders or CZTS nanopowders on a substrate by non-vacuum coating, followed by heat treatment with cavities between the nanopowders filled with filling elements such as copper, indium, gallium, zinc, tin, and the like. The high density CIS thin film is applied to a photo-absorption layer of a thin film solar cell, thereby providing a highly efficient thin film solar cell. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130071966 | COMBINATORIAL METHODS FOR DEVELOPING SUPERSTRATE THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS - Methods for developing and investigating materials and processes for various layers used in manufacturing CdTe, CIGS, and CZTS TFPV superstrate devices using high productivity combinatorial techniques is described. Typical layers subjected to the HPC techniques include the buffer layers, absorber layers, and the contact interface layers. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130095601 | DEPOSITION CHAMBER CLEANING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An in-situ method of cleaning a vacuum deposition chamber can include flowing at least one reactive gas into the chamber. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130095602 | ATYPICAL KESTERITE COMPOSITIONS - This invention relates to processes for making kesterite compositions with atypical Cu:Zn:Sn:S ratios and/or kesterite compositions with unusually small coherent domain sizes. This invention also relates to these kesterite compositions and their use in preparing CZTS films. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130065355 | LASER ANNEALING FOR THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS - A method for forming copper indium gallium (sulfide) selenide (CIGS) solar cells, cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells, and copper zinc tin (sulfide) selenide (CZTS) solar cells using laser annealing techniques to anneal the absorber and/or the buffer layers. Laser annealing may result in better crystallinity, lower surface roughness, larger grain size, better compositional homogeneity, a decrease in recombination centers, and increased densification. Additionally, laser annealing may result in the formation of non-equilibrium phases with beneficial results. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130102108 | PREPARATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR FILMS - The invention relates to a preparation process for thin semiconducting inorganic films comprising various metals (Cu/In/Zn/Ga/Sn), selenium and/or sulfur. The process uses molecular precursors comprising metal complexes with oximato ligands. Copper-based chalcopyrites of the I-III-IV | 04-25-2013 |
| 20090233398 | METHODS FOR FORMING PARTICLES FROM SINGLE SOURCE PRECURSORS, METHODS OF FORMING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES, AND DEVICES FORMED USING SUCH METHODS - Single source precursors are subjected to carbon dioxide to form particles of material. The carbon dioxide may be in a supercritical state. Single source precursors also may be subjected to supercritical fluids other than supercritical carbon dioxide to form particles of material. The methods may be used to form nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the methods are used to form chalcopyrite materials. Devices such as, for example, semiconductor devices may be fabricated that include such particles. Methods of forming semiconductor devices include subjecting single source precursors to carbon dioxide to form particles of semiconductor material, and establishing electrical contact between the particles and an electrode. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20130122641 | Method of Fabricating Buried Contacts of Solar Cell with Curved Trenches - A solar cell having buried contacts is provided. Curved trenches are formed on a surface of a Si substrate to form the buried contacts. The curved trenches have deep depths with wafer break prevented. The buried contacts have good efficiency on collecting electrons obtained from conversion by the longer wavelength light. The present invention is fit for mass production with a high yield, a simple fabrication procedure, a low cost and a good performance. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130122642 | Method of Fabricating CIGS By Selenization At High Temperature - A method for high temperature selenization of Cu—In—Ga metal precursor films comprises a partial selenization at a temperature between about 350 C and about 450 C in a Se-containing atmosphere followed by a more fully selenization step at a temperature between about 550 C and about 650 C in a Se-containing atmosphere. The Se-containing component of the atmosphere is removed through a rapid gas exchange process and the CIGS film is annealed to influence the Ga distribution throughout the depth of the film. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130122643 | Nitrogen Reactive Sputtering of Cu-In-Ga-N for Solar Cells - Methods for forming Cu—In—Ga—N (CIGN) layers for use in TFPV solar panels are described using reactive PVD deposition in a nitrogen containing atmosphere. In some embodiments, the CIGN layers can be used as an absorber layer and eliminate the need of a selenization step. In some embodiments, the CIGN layers can be used as a protective layer to decrease the sensitivity of the CIG layer to oxygen or moisture before the selenization step. In some embodiments, the CIGN layers can be used as an adhesion layer to improve the adhesion between the back contact layer and the absorber layer. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20110117692 | CIGS SOLAR CELL HAVING THERMAL EXPANSION BUFFER LAYER AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - A copper/indium/gallium/selenium (CIGS) solar cell including a thermal expansion buffer layer, and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The thermal expansion buffer layer is configured between an alloy thin film layer and a CIGS thin film layer. The thermal expansion buffer layer is deposited by executing a thin film deposition process with a continuous sputtering machine bombarding a cuprous sulphide (Cu | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110294254 | LOW COST SOLAR CELLS FORMED USING A CHALCOGENIZATION RATE MODIFIER - Methods and devices are provided for forming an absorber layer. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising of depositing a precursor material onto a substrate, wherein the precursor material may include or may be used with an additive to minimize concentration of group IIIA material such as Ga in the back portion of the final semiconductor layer. The additive may be a non-copper Group IB additive in elemental or alloy form. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20120028408 | DISTRIBUTOR HEATER - A vapor distributor assembly may include a carbon fiber heating element. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120190151 | METHOD FOR THE ACTIVATION OF CdTe THIN FILMS FOR THE APPLICATION IN CdTe/CdS TYPE THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS - A method for activation of CdTe films used in CdTe/CdS type thin film solar cells is described, in which a CdTe film is treated with a mixture formed by a fluorine-free chlorinated hydrocarbon and a gaseous chlorine-free fluorinated hydrocarbon. The fluorine-free chlorinated hydrocarbon and the gaseous chlorine-free fluorinated hydrocarbon are harmless to the ozone layer. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20100267191 | PLASMA ENHANCED THERMAL EVAPORATOR - The present invention generally provides a method for forming a photovoltaic device including evaporating a source material to form a large molecule processing gas and flowing the large molecule processing gas through a gas distribution showerhead and into a processing area of a processing chamber having a substrate therein. The method includes generating a small molecule processing gas, and reacting the small molecule processing gas with a film already deposited on a substrate surface to form a semiconductor film. Additionally, apparatuses that may use the methods are also provided to enable continuous inline CIGS type solar cell formation. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100267189 | SOLUTION-BASED FABRICATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL - An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100267190 | LAMINATED STRUCTURE FOR CIS BASED SOLAR CELL, AND INTEGRATED STRUCTURE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR CIS BASED THIN-FILM SOLAR CELL - This invention aims to provide a laminated structure and an integrated structure of a high production efficiency for a CIS based thin-film solar cell, which can produce a high-resistance buffer layer of the CIS based thin-film solar cell efficiently on a series of production lines and which needs no treatment of wastes or the like, and a manufacturing method for the structures. The CIS based thin-film solar cell includes a back electrode, a p-type CIS based light absorbing layer, a high-resistance buffer layer and an n-type transparent conductive film laminated in this order. The high-resistance buffer layer and the n-type transparent conductive film are formed of thin films of a zinc oxide group. The buffer layer contacts the p-type CIS based light absorbing layer directly, and has a resistivity of 500 Ω·cm or higher. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110263073 | Physical Vapour Deposition Processes - A method of depositing a film of a first material, such as Cadmium Telluride on to a second material, such as Cadmium Sulphide by a physical vapour deposition process wherein said deposition is performed in an atmosphere having a relatively high ambient pressure, in one embodiment between 50 and 200 Torr. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20120034734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - Described are embodiments of methods for depositing a copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) film on a substrate, such as a web substrate or a discrete substrate. In various embodiments, an incremental layer of indium is deposited followed by deposition of a top incremental layer of copper gallium to create a multi-layer structure that is subsequently selenized. By capping the multi-layer structure with the copper gallium layer, the depletion of indium during the selenization of the multi-layer is reduced or eliminated. Additional multi-layers, each having a copper gallium cap layer, are formed and selenized to create the CIGS film. Optionally, the indium content and gallium content in each multi-layer are varied from the indium content and gallium content of one or more of the other multi-layers to achieve desired content gradients in the CIGS film. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20090258457 | BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION FOR THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the buffer layer or layers may be dispensed separately to the substrate web, rather than being mixed prior to their application. The web and/or the dispensed solutions may be heated by a plurality of heating elements. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20120288988 | Method for Manufacturing Semiconductor Layer, Method for Manufacturing Photoelectric Conversion Device, and Semiconductor Layer Forming Solution - It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor layer, a method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device, and a semiconductor layer forming solution which are able to easily manufacture a good semiconductor layer having a desired thickness. To accomplish this object, a starting solution containing a metallic element, a chalcogen organic compound and a Lewis base organic compound is initially produced. Next, heating the starting solution produces fine particles. The fine particles contain a metal chalcogenide which is a compound of the metallic element and a chalcogen element included in the chalcogen organic compound. A semiconductor layer is formed by using a semiconductor layer forming solution in which the fine particles are dispersed. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20080280390 | METHOD OF FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE HAVING SELF-ALIGNED ELECTRODE, RELATED DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME - A method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device having a self-aligned electrode is provided. An interlayer insulating layer having a contact hole is formed on a substrate. A phase change pattern partially filling the contact hole is formed. A bit line which includes a bit extension self-aligned to the phase change pattern and crosses over the interlayer insulating layer is formed. The bit extension may extend in the contact hole on the phase change pattern. The bit extension contacts the phase change pattern. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20120295396 | SYNTHESIZING PHOTOVOLTAIC THIN FILMS OF HIGH QUALITY COPPER-ZINC-TIN ALLOY WITH AT LEAST ONE CHALCOGEN SPECIES - A method for synthesizing a thin film of copper, zinc, tin, and a chalcogen species (“CZTCh” or “CZTSS”) with well-controlled properties. The method includes depositing a thin film of precursor materials, e.g., approximately stoichiometric amounts of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), and a chalcogen species (Ch). The method then involves re-crystallizing and grain growth at higher temperatures, e.g., between about 725 and 925 degrees K, and annealing the precursor film at relatively lower temperatures, e.g., between 600 and 650 degrees K. The processing of the precursor film takes place in the presence of a quasi-equilibrium vapor, e.g., Sn and chalcogen species. The quasi-equilibrium vapor is used to maintain the precursor film in a quasi-equilibrium condition to reduce and even prevent decomposition of the CZTCh and is provided at a rate to balance desorption fluxes of Sn and chalcogens. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20100210065 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOLAR CELL - A method of manufacturing a solar cell is provided, which can enhance the carrier concentration, so as to increase the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor (F.F.), thereby raising the conversion efficiency. The method of manufacturing a solar cell in accordance with the present invention comprises a sputtering step of forming a layer containing Ib and IIIb group elements and Se on a substrate by sputtering with a target containing a Ib group element and a target containing a IIIb group element in an atmosphere containing Se; and a heat treatment step of heating the layer. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100248420 | METHOD FOR FORMING AN ABSORBER LAYER OF A THIN FILM SOLAR CELL - In a method for forming a light absorber layer ( | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110223710 | Deposition Chamber Cleaning System and Method - An in-situ method of cleaning a vacuum deposition chamber can include flowing at least one reactive gas into the chamber. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20090203165 | METHOD TO IMPROVE FLEXIBLE FOIL SUBSTRATE FOR THIN FILM SOLAR CELL APPLICATIONS - A thin film solar cell including a Group IBIIIAVIA absorber layer on a defect free base including a stainless steel substrate is provided. The stainless steel substrate of the base is surface treated to remove the surface roughness such as protrusions that cause shunts. Before removing the protrusions, a thin protective ruthenium film is first deposited on the recessed surface portions of the substrate to protect these portions during the following protrusion removal. The protrusions on the surface receives very little or no ruthenium during the deposition. After the ruthenium film is formed, the protrusions are etched and removed by an etchant which only attacks the stainless steel but neutral to the ruthenium film. A contact layer is formed over the ruthenium layer and the exposed portions of the substrate to complete the base. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090162969 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FORM SOLAR CELL ABSORBER LAYERS WITH PLANAR SURFACE - A method and a system are provided for forming planar absorber layers or structures by planarizing and reacting precursor layers in a reactor. A precursor structure is first formed over the front surface of a foil substrate and then planarized through application of pressure by a smooth surface while heated to a first temperature range to obtain a planar layer. The planar layer may be only partially reacted. The planar layer is further reacted at a second temperature range to form a fully or completely reacted planar absorber layer. The planar absorber layer may include at least one Group IB material, at least one Group IIIA material and at least one Group VIA material. The planar absorber layer may be a Group IBIIIAVIA compound layer. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20100015755 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE - In a step of forming an InGeSbTe film which contains GeSbTe made of germanium (Ge), antimony (Sb) and tellurium (Te) as its base material and to which indium (In) is added, an InGeSbTe film is formed by sputtering on a semiconductor substrate while keeping a temperature of the semiconductor substrate between an in-situ crystallization temperature of GeSbTe serving as the base material and an in-situ crystallization temperature of InGeSbTe. As a result, it is possible to suppress the failure that the phase separation occurs in the InGeSbTe film during the following manufacturing process. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20110059574 | COATING APPARATUS AND COATING METHOD - A coating apparatus including a coating part which applies a liquid material including an oxidizable metal on a substrate; a chamber having a coating section in which the coating part applies the liquid material on the substrate and a transport section into which the liquid material is transported; an adjusting part which adjusts at least one of oxygen concentration and humidity inside the chamber; and a control part which stops an operation of the coating part in response to the entrance of foreign object into the chamber. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20090137080 | PHASE CHANGE MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A phase change memory device reduces the current necessary to cause a phase change of a phase change layer. The phase change memory device includes a first oxide layer formed on a semiconductor substrate; a lower electrode formed inside the first oxide layer; a second oxide layer formed on the first oxide layer including the lower electrode, the second oxide having a hole for exposing a part of the lower electrode; a phase change layer formed on a surface of the hole with a uniform thickness so as to make contact with the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed in the hole and on a part of the second oxide layer, the part being adjacent to the hole. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20110129958 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCRIBING A LINE IN A THIN FILM USING A SERIES OF LASER PULSES - A series of laser pulses in a pulse train, each pulse with a predetermined temporal power shape, scribes a line in a thin film of material on a substrate. The predetermined temporal pulse shape has a fast risetime and fast falltime and a pulse length between 10% power points of less than 10 ns. Scribing a line in the thin film is achieved by placing the series of laser pulse spots on the line to be scribed such that there is some overlapping area between adjacent laser pulse spots along the line. The use of a series of laser pulses with the predetermined pulse shape to scribe a line in the thin film results in a better quality and cleaner scribing process compared to that achieved with a conventional pulse shape. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20100311202 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT ABSORBING LAYER IN CIS BASED THIN-FILM SOLAR CELL - A treatment object containing any one of Cu/Ga, Cu/In and Cu—Ga/In is held in a heated state at a temperature T | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100317144 | TECHNIQUE AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING LAYERS OF SEMICONDUCTORS FOR SOLAR CELL AND MODULE FABRICATION - The present invention advantageously provides for, in different embodiments, low-cost deposition techniques to form high-quality, dense, well-adhering Group IBIIIAVIA compound thin films with macro-scale as well as micro-scale compositional uniformities. It also provides methods to monolithically integrate solar cells made on such compound thin films to form modules. In one embodiment, there is provided a method of growing a Group IBIIIAVIA semiconductor layer on a base, and includes the steps of depositing on the base a nucleation and/or a seed layer and electroplating over the nucleation and/or the seed layer a precursor film comprising a Group IB material and at least one Group IIIA material, and reacting the electroplated precursor film with a Group VIA material. Other embodiments are also described. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20120270363 | MULTI-NARY GROUP IB AND VIA BASED SEMICONDUCTOR - Methods and devices are provided for forming an absorber layer. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising of depositing a precursor material onto a substrate, wherein the precursor material may include or may be used with an additive to minimize concentration of group IIIA material such as Ga in the back portion of the final semiconductor layer. The additive may be a non-copper Group IB additive in elemental or alloy form. Some embodiments may use both selenium and sulfur | 10-25-2012 |
| 20110008927 | METHOD FOR PREPARING LIGHT ABSORPTION LAYER OF COPPER-INDIUM-GALLIUM-SULFUR-SELENIUM THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS - A preparation method of the light absorption layer of a copper-indium-gallium-sulfur-selenium film solar cell is provided. The method employs a non-vacuum liquid-phase chemical technique, which comprises following steps: forming source solution containing copper, indium, gallium, sulfur and selenium; using the solution to form a precursor film on a substrate by a non-vacuum liquid-phase process; drying and annealing the precursor film. Thus, a compound film of copper-indium-gallium-sulfur-selenium is gained. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110244624 | Production Method of Photoelectric Conversion Device and Solution for Forming Semiconductor - The production method of a photoelectric conversion device comprises the steps of adding a chalcogenide powder of a group-IIIB element to an organic solvent including a single source precursor containing a group-IB element, a group-IIIB element, and a chalcogen element to prepare a solution for forming a semiconductor, and forming a semiconductor containing a group-I-III-VI compound by use of the solution for forming a semiconductor. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20100081230 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR ADHESION OF ABSORBER MATERIAL FOR THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL - A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device includes providing a transparent substrate comprising a surface region and forming a first electrode layer overlying the surface region. The method further includes forming a thin layer of copper gallium material overlying the first electrode layer to act as an intermediary adhesive layer to facilitate attachment to the first electrode layer. Additionally, the method includes forming a copper layer overlying the thin layer and forming an indium layer overlying the copper layer to form a multilayered structure and subjecting the multilayered structure to thermal treatment process with sulfur bearing species to form a copper indium disulfide alloy material. The copper indium disulfide alloy material comprises a copper:indium atomic ratio of about 1.2:1 to about 3.0:1 overlying a copper gallium disulfide material converted from the thin layer. Furthermore, the method includes forming a window layer overlying the copper indium disulfide alloy material. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20090233399 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHOTOELECTRIC DEVICE - In a method of manufacturing a photoelectric device, a transparent conductive layer is formed on a substrate, and the transparent conductive layer is partially etched using an etching solution including hydrofluoric acid. Thus, a transparent electrode having a concavo-convex pattern on its surface is formed. When the transparent conductive layer is partially etched, a haze of the transparent electrode may be controlled by adjusting an etching time of the transparent conductive layer. Also, since the etching solution is sprayed to the transparent conductive layer to etch the transparent conductive layer, the concavo-convex pattern on the surface of the transparent electrode may be easily formed even though the size of the substrate increases. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20110081744 | BUFFER LAYER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, REACTION SOLUTION, PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE, AND SOLAR CELL - A buffer layer manufacturing method, including the steps of forming a fine particle layer of ZnS, Zn(S, O), and/or Zn(S, O, OH), mixing an aqueous solution (I) which includes a component (Z), an aqueous solution (II) which includes a component (S), and an aqueous solution (III) which includes a component (C) to obtain a mixed solution and mixing an aqueous solution (IV) which includes a component (N) in the mixed solution to prepare a reaction solution in which the concentration of the component (C) is 0.001 to 0.25M, concentration of the component (N) is 0.41 to 1.0M, and the pH before the start of reaction is 9.0 to 12.0, and, using the reaction solution, forming a Zn compound layer of Zn(S, O) and/or Zn(S, O, OH) on the fine particle layer by a liquid phase method with a reaction temperature of 70 to 95° C. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110086465 | CIGS SOLAR CELL STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - A copper/indium/gallium/selenium (CIGS) solar cell structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The CIGS solar cell structure includes a substrate, a molybdenum thin film layer, an alloy thin film layer, and a CIGS thin film layer. According to the present invention, the alloy thin film layer is provided between the molybdenum thin film layer and the CIGS thin film layer, serving as a conductive layer of the CIGS solar cell structure. The alloy thin film layer is composed of a variety of high electrically conductive materials (such as molybdenum, copper, aluminum, and silver) in different proportions. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20120034733 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - Described are a system and a method for depositing a thin film on a substrate. In some embodiments, the system includes a substrate transport system to transport a plurality of discrete substrates, such as glass substrates or wafers, along a closed path. The system also includes a metal deposition zone, a selenization zone and a cooling chamber each disposed on the closed path. During transport along the closed path, the metal deposition zone deposits a layer of a composite metal onto the discrete substrates and the selenization zone selenizes the layer of the composite metal. The cooling zone cools the discrete substrates prior to a subsequent pass through the metal deposition zone and the selenization zone. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20110256661 | Method for Improved Patterning Accuracy for Thin Film Photovoltaic Panels - A method for patterning a thin film photovoltaic panel on a substrate characterized by a compaction parameter. The method includes forming molybdenum material overlying the substrate and forming a first plurality of patterns in the molybdenum material to configure a first patterned structure having a first inter-pattern spacing. Additionally, the method includes forming a precursor material comprising at least copper bearing species and indium bearing species overlying the first patterned structure. Then the substrate including the precursor material is subjected to a thermal processes to form at least an absorber structure. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20120122268 | SELENIZATION OF PRECURSOR LAYER CONTAINING CULNS2 NANOPARTICLES - A method of fabrication of thin films for photovoltaic or electronic applications is provided. The method includes fabricating a nanocrystal precursor layer and selenizing the nanocrystal precursor layer in a selenium containing atmosphere. The nanocrystal precursor layer includes one of CuInS | 05-17-2012 |
| 20090176329 | Phase-change memory device and method of manufacturing the same - In a method of forming a phase-change memory device, a variable resistance member may be formed on a s semiconductor substrate having a contact region, and a first electrode may be formed to contact a first portion of the variable resistance member and to be electrically connected to the contact region. A second electrode may be formed so as to contact a second portion of the variable resistance member. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20110189816 | METHOD OF PRODUCING PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE - A method of producing a photoelectric conversion device having a multilayer structure formed on a substrate, the multilayer structure including a lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer made of a compound semiconductor layer, an n-type buffer layer made of a compound semiconductor layer, and a transparent conductive layer, is disclosed. A reaction solution, which is an aqueous solution containing an n-type dopant element, at least one of ammonia and an ammonium salt, and thiourea, is prepared, the n-type dopant is diffused into the photoelectric conversion layer by immersing the substrate including the photoelectric conversion layer in the reaction solution controlled to a temperature in the range from 20° C. to 45° C.; and the buffer layer is deposited on the photoelectric conversion layer by immersing the substrate including the photoelectric conversion layer subjected to the diffusion step in the reaction solution controlled to a temperature in the range from 70° C. to 95° C. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110263072 | FORMING CHALCOGENIDE SEMICONDUCTOR ABSORBERS - Sulfur-containing chalcogenide absorbers in thin film solar cell are manufactured by sequential sputtering or co-sputtering targets, one of which contains a sulfur compound, onto a substrate and then annealing the substrate. The anneal is performed in a non-sulfur containing environment and avoids the use of hazardous hydrogen sulfide gas. A sulfurized chalcogenide is formed having a sulfur concentration gradient. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110070689 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070687 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070688 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070686 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070685 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070684 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070683 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070682 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR LARGE SCALE PROCESSING OF CIS AND/OR CIGS BASED THIN FILMS OVERLYING GLASS SUBSTRATES - The thermal management and method for large scale processing of CIS and/or CIGS based thin film overlaying glass substrates. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a copper indium diselenide semiconductor film. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a copper and indium composite structure. The method also includes transferring the plurality of substrates into a furnace, each of the plurality of substrates provided in a vertical orientation with respect to a direction of gravity, the plurality of substrates being defined by a number N, where N is greater than 5. The method further includes introducing a gaseous species including a selenide species and a carrier gas into the furnace and transferring thermal energy into the furnace to increase a temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature ranging from about 350° C. to about 450° C. to at least initiate formation of a copper indium diselenide film from the copper and indium composite structure on each of the substrates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20090246908 | ROLL-TO-ROLL PROCESSING METHOD AND TOOLS FOR ELECTROLESS DEPOSITION OF THIN LAYERS - A deposition method and a system are provided to deposit a CdS buffer layer on a surface of a solar cell absorber layer of a flexible workpiece from a process solution including all chemical components of the CdS buffer layer material. CdS is deposited from the deposition solution while the flexible workpiece is heated and elastically shaped by a heated shaping plate to retain the process solution on the solar cell absorber layer. The flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by pulling a back surface of the flexible workpiece into a cavity area in the heated shaping plate using an attractive force. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20080220560 | Programmable resistance memory element and method for making same - A programmable resistance memory element. The active volume of memory material is made small by the presence of a small area of contact between the conductive material and the memory material. The area of contact is created by forming a region of conductive material and an intersecting sidewall layer of the memory material. The region of conductive material is preferably a sidewall layer of conductive material. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20110318868 | Protective Layer for Large-Scale Production of Thin-Film Solar Cells - A solar cell includes a substrate, a protective layer located over a first surface of the substrate, a first electrode located over a second surface of the substrate, at least one p-type semiconductor absorber layer located over the first electrode, an n-type semiconductor layer located over the p-type semiconductor absorber layer, and a second electrode over the n-type semiconductor layer. The p-type semiconductor absorber layer includes a copper indium selenide (CIS) based alloy material, and the second electrode is transparent and electrically conductive. The protective layer has an emissivity greater than 0.25 at a wavelength of 2 μm, has a reactivity with a selenium-containing gas lower than that of the substrate, and may differ from the first electrode in at least one of composition, thickness, density, emissivity, conductivity or stress state. The emissivity profile of the protective layer may be uniform or non-uniform. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120003786 | ELECTROPLATING METHODS AND CHEMISTRIES FOR CIGS PRECURSOR STACKS WITH CONDUCTIVE SELENIDE BOTTOM LAYER - The present invention provides a method and precursor structure to form a solar cell absorber layer. The method includes forming a CIGS solar cell absorber on a base by depositing a first layer on the base, where in the first layer includes non-crystalline copper-selenide that is electrically nonconductive, and then heat treating the first layer at a first temperature range to transform the non-crystalline copper-selenide into a crystalline copper-selenide that is electrically conductive, thereby ensuring that the first layer becomes a first conductive layer. Thereafter, other steps follow to complete formation of the CIGS solar cell absorber. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120021559 | HIGH SPEED LASER CRYSTALLIZATION OF PARTICLES OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR CELLS - A system and method for enhancing the conversion efficiency of thin film photovoltaics. The thin film structure includes a photovoltaic absorbent layer covered by a confinement layer. A laser beam passes through the confinement layer and hits the photovoltaic absorbent layer. The laser can be pulsed to create localized rapid heating and cooling of the photovoltaic absorbent layer. The confinement layer confines the laser induced plasma plume creating a localized high-pressure condition for the photovoltaic absorbent layer. The laser beam can be scanned across specific regions of the thin film structure. The laser beam can be pulsed as a series of short pulses. The photovoltaic absorbent layer can be made of various materials including copper indium diselenide, gallium arsenide, and cadmium telluride. The photovoltaic absorbent layer can be sandwiched between a substrate and the confinement layer, and a molybdenum layer can be between the substrate and the photovoltaic absorbent layer. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120058596 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME MONITORING OF CADMIUM ION DURING SOLUTION GROWTH OF CADMIUM SULFIDE THIN FILMS - The present invention provides a reaction chamber to monitor a metal ion in solution during the formation of a metal-sulfide layer on a substrate. The reaction chamber houses a solution of an ammonium ion, a metal ion and a buffer. The reaction chamber includes an anion-selective electrode in the solution to monitor the metal ion that measures the metal ion during metal-ammonium complex formation, metal-thiourea complex formation, metal sulfide composition formation, metal sulfide layer formation or a combination thereof. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120156827 | METHOD FOR FORMING CADMIUM TIN OXIDE LAYER AND A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method includes disposing a substantially amorphous cadmium tin oxide layer on a support and rapidly thermally annealing the substantially amorphous cadmium tin oxide layer by exposing a first surface of the substantially amorphous cadmium tin oxide layer to an electromagnetic radiation to form a transparent layer. A method of making a photovoltaic device is also provided. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20100248419 | SOLAR CELL ABSORBER LAYER FORMED FROM EQUILIBRIUM PRECURSOR(S) - Methods and devices are provided for forming an absorber layer. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising of depositing a solution on a substrate to form a precursor layer. The solution comprises of at least one equilibrium and/or near equilibrium material. The precursor layer is processed in one or more steps to form a photovoltaic absorber layer. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be created by processing the precursor layer into a solid film and then thermally reacting the solid film in an atmosphere containing at least an element of Group VIA of the Periodic Table to form the photovoltaic absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be processed by thermal reaction of the precursor layer in an atmosphere containing at least an element of Group VIA of the Periodic Table to form the photovoltaic absorber layer. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110183461 | PROCESS DEVICE FOR PROCESSING IN PARTICULAR STACKED PROESSED GOODS - The invention relates to a processing device for the processing of in particular stacked proceed goods, particularly in the form of planar substrates for the production of thin layers, particularly of conducting, semiconducting, or insulating thin layers, comprising an evacuatable processing chamber for receiving a process gas, comprising at least one tempering device, particularly at least in sections in and/or in thermal operative connection with at least one wall, particularly all walls of the processing chamber, said chamber being equipped and suited to keep at least a partial region of the wall, particularly substantially the entire process chamber wall, of the process chamber at a predetermined temperature, particularly to keep the same at a first temperature during at least part of the processing of the stacked processed goods, said temperature not being below room temperature as the second temperature, and being below a third temperature which can be generated in the processing chamber and is above room temperature; at least one gas conveying device for creating a gas flow cycle in the process chamber, particularly a forced convection; at least one heating device for heating the gas, said heating device disposed or able to be disposed in the gas flow cycle created by the gas conveying device; at least one gas guiding device, | 07-28-2011 |
| 20120164785 | METHOD OF MAKING A TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE OXIDE LAYER AND A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method includes disposing a substantially amorphous cadmium tin oxide layer on a support; and thermally processing the substantially amorphous cadmium tin oxide layer in an atmosphere substantially free of cadmium from an external source to form a transparent layer, wherein the transparent layer has an electrical resistivity less than about 2×10 | 06-28-2012 |
| 20100210064 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CIS-BASED THIN FILM SOLAR CELL - In order to manufacture a CIS-based thin film solar cell that can achieve high photoelectric conversion efficiency by adding an alkali element to a light absorbing layer easily and with good controllability, a backside electrode layer ( | 08-19-2010 |
| 20120315722 | High-Throughput Printing of Semiconductor Precursor Layer from Nanoflake Particles - Methods and devices are provided for transforming non-planar or planar precursor materials in an appropriate vehicle under the appropriate conditions to create dispersions of planar particles with stoichiometric ratios of elements equal to that of the feedstock or precursor materials, even after selective forces settling. In particular, planar particles disperse more easily, form much denser coatings (or form coatings with more interparticle contact area), and anneal into fused, dense films at a lower temperature and/or time than their counterparts made from spherical nanoparticles. These planar particles may be nanoflakes that have a high aspect ratio. The resulting dense films formed from nanoflakes are particularly useful in forming photovoltaic devices. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120220067 | FURNACE AND METHOD OF FORMING THIN FILM USING THE SAME - A furnace includes a chamber extended in a first direction to accommodate a plurality of substrates, a process plate on which the substrates are mounted, and the process plate is disposed in the chamber and extended in the first direction. The process plate includes a plurality of thru-holes penetrating through an upper surface and a lower surface of the process plate. The furnace further includes at least one fan disposed under the lower surface to flow air in the chamber in a second direction such that the air flows from the upper surface to the lower surface through the thru-holes and a heater operatively connected to the chamber to heat the air in the chamber. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120258566 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SOLAR BATTERY, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUBSTRATE - There is provide a substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a processing chamber configured to house a plurality of substrates with a laminated film formed thereon which is composed of any one of copper-indium, copper-gallium, or copper-indium-gallium; a gas supply tube configured to introduce elemental selenium-containing gas or elemental sulfur-containing gas into the processing chamber; an exhaust tube configured to exhaust an atmosphere in the processing chamber; and a heating section provided so as to surround the reaction tube, wherein a base of the reaction tube is made of a metal material. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20110189815 | FORMATION OF CIGS ABSORBER LAYER MATERIALS USING ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION AND HIGH THROUGHPUT SURFACE TREATMENT ON COILED FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATES - An absorber layer may be formed on a substrate using atomic layer deposition reactions. An absorber layer containing elements of groups IB, IIIA and VIB may be formed by placing a substrate in a treatment chamber and performing atomic layer deposition of a group IB element and/or one or more group IIIA elements from separate sources onto a substrate to form a film. A group VIA element is then incorporated into the film and annealed to form the absorber layer. The absorber layer may be greater than about 25 nm thick. The substrate may be coiled into one or more coils in such a way that adjacent turns of the coils do not touch one another. The coiled substrate may be placed in a treatment chamber where substantially an entire surface of the one or more coiled substrates may be treated by an atomic layer deposition process. One or more group IB elements and/or one or more group IIIA elements may be deposited onto the substrate in a stoichiometrically controlled ratio by atomic layer deposition using one or more self limiting reactions. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20120238054 | SCREEN-PRINTABLE QUATERNARY CHALCOGENIDE COMPOSITIONS - The present invention relates to screen-printable quaternary chalcogenide compositions. The present invention also provides a process for creating an essentially pure crystalline layer of the quaternary chacogenide on a substrate. Such coated substrates contain p-type to semiconductors and are useful as the absorber layer in a solar cell. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120258567 | REACTION METHODS TO FORM GROUP IBIIIAVIA THIN FILM SOLAR CELL ABSORBERS - The present invention provides a method to form Group IBIIIAVIA solar cell absorber layers on continuous flexible substrates. In a preferred aspect, the method forms a Group IBIIIAVIA absorber layer for manufacturing photovoltaic cells by providing a workpiece having a precursor layer formed over a substrate, the precursor layer including copper, indium, gallium, selenium and a dopant of a Group IA material; heating the precursor layer to a first temperature; reacting the precursor layer at the first temperature for a first predetermined time to transform the precursor layer to a partially formed absorber structure; cooling down the partially formed absorber structure to a second temperature, wherein both the first temperature and the second temperature are above 400° C.; and reacting the partially formed absorber structure at the second temperature for a second predetermined time, which is longer than the first predetermined time, to form a Group IBIIIAVIA absorber layer. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20110124150 | Chalcogenide Absorber Layers for Photovoltaic Applications and Methods of Manufacturing the Same - In one example embodiment, a method includes depositing one or more thin-film layers onto a substrate. More particularly, at least one of the thin-film layers comprises at least one electropositive material and at least one of the thin-film layers comprises at least one chalcogen material suitable for forming a chalcogenide material with the electropositive material. The method further includes annealing the one or more deposited thin-film layers at an average heating rate of or exceeding 1 degree Celsius per second. The method may also include cooling the annealed one or more thin-film layers at an average cooling rate of or exceeding 0.1 degrees Celsius per second. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110124149 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COATING A CARRIER FOR THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS | 05-26-2011 |
| 20120231574 | Continuous Electroplating Apparatus with Assembled Modular Sections for Fabrications of Thin Film Solar Cells - An electroplating production line or apparatus that can be assembled with modular plating sections in a roll-to-roll or reel-to-reel continuous plating process is provided. The length of the plating cell for a modular plating section can be readily changed to fit different current densities required in a roll-to-roll or reel-to-reel process. In addition, the electrolyte solution tanks can be simply connected or disconnected from the modular plating sections and moved around. With these designs, a multiple layers of coating with different metals, semiconductors or their alloys can be electrodeposited on this production line or apparatus with a flexibility to easily change the plating orders of different materials. This apparatus is particularly useful in manufacturing Group IB-IIIA-VIA and Group IIB-VIA thin film solar cells such as CIGS and CdTe solar cells on flexible conductive substrates through a continuous roll-to-roll or reel-to-reel process. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20080299699 | Methods of Forming A Resistance Variable Element - The invention includes methods of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface, and methods of forming a resistance variable device. In one implementation, a method of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface includes providing a deposition chamber comprising a sputtering target and a substrate to be depositing upon. The target comprises silver, and the substrate comprises an exposed surface comprising metal selenide. Gaseous cesium is flowed to the target and a bombarding inert sputtering species is flowed to the target effective to sputter negative silver ions from the target. The sputtered negative silver ions are flowed to the exposed metal selenide-comprising surface effective to deposit a continuous and completely covering silver film on the exposed metal selenide of the substrate. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20120322197 | Solid Group IIIA Particles Formed Via Quenching - Methods and devices are provided for forming thin-films from solid group IIIA-based particles. In one embodiment, a process for forming solid particles is provided. The method includes providing a first suspension of solid and/or liquid particles containing at least one group IIIA element. A material may be added to substantially increase the melting point of at least one set of group IIIA-containing particles in the suspension into higher-melting solid particles comprising an alloy of the group IIIA element and at least a part of the added material. The suspension may be deposited onto a substrate to form a precursor layer on the substrate and the precursor layer is reacted in a suitable atmosphere to form a film. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120322198 | METHODS FOR SUBLIMATION OF Mg AND INCORPORATION INTO CdTe FILMS TO FORM TERNARY COMPOSITIONS - A method for sublimating a thin film of Magnesium (Mg) on a semiconductor structure for improved efficiency is described. One embodiment includes a method comprised of providing a semiconductor substrate in a vacuum chamber, wherein the substrate comprises a window layer and an absorber layer made of CdTe. The method further includes heating the substrate to a diffusion temperature or greater followed by depositing a Mg film on the absorber layer using a sublimation process, wherein at least a portion of the Mg forms a Cd | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120094429 | Sodium Salt Containing CIG Targets, Methods of Making and Methods of Use Thereof - A sputtering target includes at least one metal selected from copper, indium and gallium and a sodium containing compound. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20110269262 | Method and System for Large Scale Manufacture of Thin Film Photovoltaic Devices Using Multi-Chamber Configuration - A method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices includes loading a substrate into a load lock station and transferring the substrate in a controlled ambient to a first process station. The method includes using a first physical deposition process in the first process station to cause formation of a first conductor layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method includes transferring the substrate to a second process station, and using a second physical deposition process in the second process station to cause formation of a second layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method further includes repeating the transferring and processing until all thin film materials of the photovoltaic devices are formed. In an embodiment, the invention also provides a method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices including feed forward control. That is, the method includes in-situ monitoring of the physical, electrical, and optical properties of the thin films. These properties are used to determine and adjust process conditions for subsequent processes. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20120282730 | Ink composition, Chalcogenide Semiconductor Film, Photovoltaic Device and Methods for Forming the same - An ink composition includes a solvent system, a plurality of metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, at least one of metal ions and metal complex ions and a sodium source. The at least one of the metal ions and the metal complex ions are distributed on the surface of the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and adapted to disperse the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles in the solvent system. The sodium source is dispersed in the solvent system and/or is included in at least one of the metal chalcogenide nanoparticle, the metal ions and the metal complex ions. The metals of the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, the metal ions and the metal complex ions are selected from a group consisted of group I, group II, group III, group IV elements of periodic table, and sodium and include all metal elements of a chalcogenide semiconductor material. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20110287579 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOLAR CELL - A method of manufacturing a solar cell is presented. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20120288987 | AQUEOUS PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CRYSTALLINE COPPER CHALCOGENIDE NANOPARTICLES, THE NANOPARTICLES SO-PRODUCED, AND INKS AND COATED SUBSTRATES INCORPORATING THE NANOPARTICLES - The present invention relates to aqueous processes to make metal chalcogenide nanoparticles that are useful precursors to copper zinc tin sulfide/selenide and copper tin sulfide/selenide. In addition, this invention provides processes for preparing crystalline particles from the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, as well as processes for preparing inks from both the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and the crystalline particles. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120288986 | ELECTROPLATING METHOD FOR DEPOSITING CONTINUOUS THIN LAYERS OF INDIUM OR GALLIUM RICH MATERIALS - An electrochemical deposition method to form uniform and continuous Group IIIA material rich thin films with repeatability is provided. Such thin films are used in fabrication of semiconductor and electronic devices such as thin film solar cells. In one embodiment, the Group IIIA material rich thin film is deposited on an interlayer that includes 20-90 molar percent of at least one of In and Ga and at least 10 molar percent of an additive material including one of Cu, Se, Te, Ag and S. The thickness of the interlayer is adapted to be less than or equal to about 20% of the thickness of the Group IIIA material rich thin film. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20100129957 | THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A method is provided for producing a thin-film photovoltaic device. The method includes forming on a substrate a first thin-film absorber layer using a first deposition process. A second thin-film absorber layer is formed on the first thin-film absorber layer using a second deposition process different from the first deposition process. The first and second thin-film absorber layers are each photovoltaically active regions and the second thin-film absorber layer has a smaller concentration of defects than the first thin-film absorber layer. | 05-27-2010 |
