Patent · US Active

Front electrode for use in photovoltaic device and method of making same

US8203073B2 · kind B2 · utility

28Cited by
73References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 1, 2008
Grant dateJun 19, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 11, 2029

Classification

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

Abstract

This invention relates to a front electrode/contact for use in an electronic device such as a photovoltaic device. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode of a photovoltaic device or the like includes a multilayer coating including at least one transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (e.g., of or including a material such as tin oxide, ITO, zinc oxide, or the like) and/or at least one conductive substantially metallic IR reflecting layer (e.g., based on silver, gold, or the like). In certain example instances, the multilayer front electrode coating may include one or more conductive metal(s) oxide layer(s) and one or more conductive substantially metallic IR reflecting layer(s) in order to provide for reduced visible light reflection, increased conductivity, cheaper manufacturability, and/or increased infrared (IR) reflection capability. At least one of the surfaces of the front glass substrate may be textured in certain example embodiments of this invention.

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