Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier

Title: Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier

Abstract

Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming an absorber on a substrate includes: depositing a first layer of light absorbing material on the substrate; depositing a diffusion barrier; depositing a second layer of light absorbing material on the diffusion barrier, wherein the first layer of light absorbing material has a different band gap from the second layer of light absorbing material; and annealing the absorber, wherein the diffusion barrier prevents diffusion of elements between the first layer of light absorbing material and the second layer of light absorbing material during the annealing. A solar cell and method for formation thereof are also provided.

Inventors:: Antunez, Priscilla D.; Ellis, Arthur W.; Haight, Richard A.; Hannon, James B.; Oida, Satoshi

Issue Date:: 2019-07-23

Research Org.:: International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1568639

Patent Number(s):: 10361331

Application Number:: 15/409,142

Assignee:: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

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Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E10/50 - Photovoltaic [PV] energy

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
H01L31/0326 - {comprising AIBIICIVDVI kesterite compounds, e.g. Cu2ZnSnSe4, Cu2ZnSnS4}
H01L31/1864 - {Annealing}
H01L31/0352 - characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
H01L31/0725 - Multiple junction or tandem solar cells
H01L31/18 - Processes or apparatus peculiar to the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof

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DOE Contract Number:: EE0006334

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 01/18/2017

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Formats


                    Antunez, Priscilla D., Ellis, Arthur W., Haight, Richard A., Hannon, James B., and Oida, Satoshi. Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
        Web.

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                    Antunez, Priscilla D., Ellis, Arthur W., Haight, Richard A., Hannon, James B., & Oida, Satoshi. Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier.  United States.

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                    Antunez, Priscilla D., Ellis, Arthur W., Haight, Richard A., Hannon, James B., and Oida, Satoshi. Tue .  
        "Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1568639.

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@article{osti_1568639,

  title        = {Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier},

  author       = {Antunez, Priscilla D. and Ellis, Arthur W. and Haight, Richard A. and Hannon, James B. and Oida, Satoshi},

  abstractNote = {Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming an absorber on a substrate includes: depositing a first layer of light absorbing material on the substrate; depositing a diffusion barrier; depositing a second layer of light absorbing material on the diffusion barrier, wherein the first layer of light absorbing material has a different band gap from the second layer of light absorbing material; and annealing the absorber, wherein the diffusion barrier prevents diffusion of elements between the first layer of light absorbing material and the second layer of light absorbing material during the annealing. A solar cell and method for formation thereof are also provided.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2019},

  month        = {7}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Graphene barrier layers for interconnects and methods for forming the same
patent, January 2015

Niyogi, Sandip; Lang, Chi-I
US Patent Document 8,927,415
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Stable photovoltaic devices and method of producing same
patent, October 1985

Hack, Michael G.; Guha, Subhendu
US Patent Document 4,547,621
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4547621

Film on graphene on a substrate and method and devices therefor
patent-application, June 2012

Kub, Francis; Anderson, Travis; Mastro, Michael
US Patent Application 13/310347; 20120141799
URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220120141799%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20120141799&RS=DN/20120141799

High efficiency thin-film multiple-gap photovoltaic device
patent, March 1983

Dalal, Vikram L.
US Patent Document 4,377,723
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4377723

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Title: Photovoltaic structures having multiple absorber layers separated by a diffusion barrier

Abstract

Citation Formats

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patent-application, June 2012

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