Patent · US Active

Composition control for photovoltaic thin film manufacturing

US7897416B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
17References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 2010
Grant dateMar 1, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P70/50
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing composition control to thin compound semiconductor films for radiation detector and photovoltaic applications. In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method in which the molar ratio of the elements in a plurality of layers are detected so that tuning of the multi-element layer can occur to obtain the multi-element layer that has a predetermined molar ratio range. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method in which the thickness of a sub-layer and layers thereover of Cu, In and/or Ga are detected and tuned in order to provide tuned thicknesses that are substantially the same as pre-determined thicknesses.

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