Ultra lightweight photovoltaic device and method for its manufacture

US7517465B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• United Solar Ovonic LLC · US

Inventors

• Subhendu Guha · Troy, US
• Arindam Banerjee · Sunnyvale, US
• Kevin Beernink · Mountain View, US
• Todd Johnson · Philadelphia, US
• Ginger Pietka · Harrison, US
• Gregory Demaggio · Bloomfield Hills, US
• Shengzhong Liu · Mechanicsville, US
• Jeffrey Ming-Jer Yang · Cerritos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 20, 2005
• Grant date: Apr 14, 2009
• Expiry date: Jan 9, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50

Abstract

An ultra lightweight semiconductor device such as a photovoltaic device is fabricated on a non-etchable barrier layer which is disposed upon an etchable substrate. The device is contacted with an appropriate etchant for a period of time sufficient to remove at least a portion of the thickness of the substrate. The barrier layer prevents damage to the photovoltaic material during the etching process. Photovoltaic devices fabricated by this method have specific power levels in excess of 300 w/kg.