Method for the continuous manufacture of thin film solar cells

Patent · Tue Mar 09 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5191656

Barnett, A M; Baron, B N; Masi, J V; Russell, T W

A technique for manufacturing durable, reliable solar cells by a continuous process suitable for large-scale manufacture involves, in substance, providing a reel of thin metal foil substrate and forming on the substrate a series of layers operative to form a photovoltaic junction, short prevention blocking layers, contacts and integral encapsulation. The foil substrate is processed as a continuous reel substantially until final testing at which point, if desired, it can be cut into individual cells for deployment. In comparison with a batch process, the continuous technique can reduce manufacturing cost by as much as a factor of two.

• Assignee: University of Delaware
• Patent Number(s): US 4318938
• OSTI ID: 5191656
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 29 May 1979; Other Information: PAT-APPL-043315
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR CELLS
MANUFACTURING
COST
CUTTING
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ENCAPSULATION
FOILS
LAYERS
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SUBSTRATES
TESTING
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
JUNCTIONS
MACHINING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion