Method of making thin film photovoltaic solar cell

Patent · Tue Oct 18 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6523593

Barnett, A M

This patent describes a method of fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device on a substrate selected from a group consisting of metals, metal alloys, and metallurgical grade semiconductors, comprising the steps of: (a) texturing the substrate; (b) applying over the textured substrate an optically transparent, conducting metallurgical barrier layer; (c) continuously depositing over the barrier layer a first semiconductor layer of a first selected conductivity type by moving the substrate through a liquid saturated solution of a first semiconductor material dissolved in a solvent and applying a temperature gradient across the saturated solution to drive the growth of the first semiconductor layer; (d) continuously depositing a second semiconductor layer having a conductivity type opposite the first selected conductivity type by moving the substrate through an additional liquid saturated solution of a second semiconductor material dissolved in a solvent and applying a temperature gradient across the second saturated solution to drive the growth of the second semiconductor layer.

• Assignee: University of Delaware, Newark, DE
• Patent Number(s): US 4778478
• OSTI ID: 6523593
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
CRYSTAL GROWTH
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DISSOLUTION
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FILMS
LAYERS
MATERIALS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SUBSTRATES
THIN FILMS