Method for making photovoltaic devices using oxygenated semiconductor thin film layers

US8912037B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• First Solar, Inc. · US
• Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC · US

Inventors

• James Neil Johnson · Scotia, US
• David S. Albin · Denver, US
• Scott Daniel Feldman-Peabody · Golden, US
• Mark Jeffrey Pavol · Arvada, US
• Robert Dwayne Gossman · Aurora, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 28, 2011
• Grant date: Dec 16, 2014
• Expiry date: Aug 14, 2032

Classification

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

Abstract

A method for making a photovoltaic device is presented. The method includes steps of disposing a window layer on a substrate and disposing an absorber layer on the window layer. Disposing the window layer, the absorber layer, or both layers includes introducing a source material into a deposition zone, wherein the source material comprises oxygen and a constituent of the window layer, of the absorber layer or of both layers. The method further includes step of depositing a film that comprises the constituent and oxygen.