Inorganic salt-nanoparticle ink for thin film photovoltaic devices and related methods
US9960314B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/541
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Compositions for solution-based deposition of CIGS films are described. The compositions include ternary, quaternary or quinary chalcogenide nanoparticles (i.e., CIGS nanoparticles) and one or more inorganic salts dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to form an ink. The ink can be deposited on a substrate by conventional coating techniques and then annealed to form a crystalline layer. Further processing can be employed to fabricate a PV device. The inorganic salts are included to (i) tune the stoichiometry of the CIGS precursor ink to a desirable ratio, thus tuning the semiconductor band gap, to (ii) dope the CIGS layer with additives, such as Sb and/or Na, to promote grain growth, and/or to (iii) modify and improve the coating properties of the CIGS precursor ink.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.