Method for producing textured substrates for thin-film photovoltaic cells
Abstract
The invention pertains to the production of ceramic substrates used in the manufacture of thin-film photovoltaic cells used for directly converting solar energy to electrical energy. Elongated ribbon-like sheets of substrate precursor containing a mixture of ceramic particulates, a binder, and a plasticizer are formed and then while green provided with a mechanically textured surface region used for supporting the thin film semiconductor of the photovoltaic cell when the sheets of the substrate precursor are subsequently cut into substrate-sized shapes and then sintered. The textured surface pattern on the substrate provides enhanced light trapping and collection for substantially increasing the solar energy conversion efficiency of thin-film photovoltaic cells. 4 figures.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5131542
- Patent Number(s):
- 5306646
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-996328
- Assignee:
- Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 23 Dec 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; CERAMICS; FABRICATION; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; SUBSTRATES; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; TEXTURE; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; EFFICIENCY; PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS; 140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion; 360201 - Ceramics, Cermets, & Refractories- Preparation & Fabrication
Citation Formats
Lauf, R J. Method for producing textured substrates for thin-film photovoltaic cells. United States: N. p., 1994.
Web.
Lauf, R J. Method for producing textured substrates for thin-film photovoltaic cells. United States.
Lauf, R J. Tue .
"Method for producing textured substrates for thin-film photovoltaic cells". United States.
@article{osti_5131542,
title = {Method for producing textured substrates for thin-film photovoltaic cells},
author = {Lauf, R J},
abstractNote = {The invention pertains to the production of ceramic substrates used in the manufacture of thin-film photovoltaic cells used for directly converting solar energy to electrical energy. Elongated ribbon-like sheets of substrate precursor containing a mixture of ceramic particulates, a binder, and a plasticizer are formed and then while green provided with a mechanically textured surface region used for supporting the thin film semiconductor of the photovoltaic cell when the sheets of the substrate precursor are subsequently cut into substrate-sized shapes and then sintered. The textured surface pattern on the substrate provides enhanced light trapping and collection for substantially increasing the solar energy conversion efficiency of thin-film photovoltaic cells. 4 figures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {4}
}