Patent · US Expired

Thin film flexible solar cell

US6548751B2 · kind B2 · utility

60Cited by
11References
71Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 2001
Grant dateApr 15, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/50
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A thin-film flexible solar cell built on a plastic substrate comprises a cadmium telluride p-type layer and a cadmium sulfide n-type layer sputter deposited onto a plastic substrate at a temperature sufficiently low to avoid damaging or melting the plastic and to minimize crystallization of the cadmium telluride. A transparent conductive oxide layer overlaid by a bus bar network is deposited over the n-type layer. A back contact layer of conductive metal is deposited underneath the p-type layer and completes the current collection circuit. The semiconductor layers may be amorphous or polycrystalline in structure.

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