Back contact buffer layer for thin-film solar cells

Compaan, Alvin D.; Plotnikov, Victor V.

Title: Back contact buffer layer for thin-film solar cells

Patent · Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 EDT 2014

OSTI ID:1157082

Compaan, Alvin D.; Plotnikov, Victor V.

A photovoltaic cell structure is disclosed that includes a buffer/passivation layer at a CdTe/Back contact interface. The buffer/passivation layer is formed from the same material that forms the n-type semiconductor active layer. In one embodiment, the buffer layer and the n-type semiconductor active layer are formed from cadmium sulfide (CdS). A method of forming a photovoltaic cell includes the step of forming the semiconductor active layers and the buffer/passivation layer within the same deposition chamber and using the same material source.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Assignee:: The University of Toledo (Toledo, OH)

Patent Number(s):: 8,829,342

Application Number:: 13/515,686

OSTI ID:: 1157082

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (29)

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Cited By (1)

Back contact buffer layer for thin-film solar cells Compaan, Alvin D.; Plotnikov, Victor V. https://doi.org/https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/8829342 US Patent Document 8,829,342	patent	September 2014

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