Patent · US Active

Method and device for cadmium-free solar cells

US8628997B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
157References
19Claims
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Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 2011
Grant dateJan 14, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 8, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/547

Abstract

A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate comprising a thin film photovoltaic absorber which has a surface including copper, indium, gallium, selenium, and sulfur. The method further includes subjecting the surface to a material containing at least a zinc species substantially free of any cadmium. The surface is heated to cause formation of a zinc doped material. The zinc doped material is free from cadmium. Furthermore the method includes forming a zinc oxide material overlying the zinc doped material and forming a transparent conductive material overlying the zinc oxide material.

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