Patent · US Expired

Method of producing a thin-film solar cell

US5273911A · kind A · utility

51Cited by
4References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 5, 1992
Grant dateDec 28, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 5, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S148/122
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for producing a thin-film solar cell having a thin-film active layer on a graphite sheet substrate includes the steps of adhering two sheets of graphite together, forming semi-conductor thin films serving as active layers on second main surfaces of the two sheets of graphite, and separating the two sheets of graphite from each other. In this structure, stress caused by a difference in expansion coefficients between the upper sheet and the semiconductor thin film is cancelled by stress caused by a difference in expansion coefficients between the lower sheet and the semiconductor thin film. Therefore, curvature of the substrates is prevented whereby subsequent process steps are easily carried out. In addition, the number of products per unit time is doubled, thereby increasing productivity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.