Monolithic amorphous silicon modules on continuous polymer substrate

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5784428· OSTI ID:5784428

Grimmer, D P ^[1]

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1. Iowa Thin Film Technologies, Inc., Ames, IA (United States)

This report examines manufacturing monolithic amorphous silicon modules on a continuous polymer substrate. Module production costs can be reduced by increasing module performance, expanding production, and improving and modifying production processes. Material costs can be reduced by developing processes that use a 1-mil polyimide substrate and multilayers of low-cost material for the front encapsulant. Research to speed up a-Si and ZnO deposition rates is needed to improve throughputs. To keep throughput rates compatible with depositions, multibeam fiber optic delivery systems for laser scribing can be used. However, mechanical scribing systems promise even higher throughputs. Tandem cells and production experience can increase device efficiency and stability. Two alternative manufacturing processes are described: (1) wet etching and sheet handling and (2) wet etching and roll-to-roll fabrication.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Iowa Thin Film Technologies, Inc., Ames, IA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 5784428
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-214-4488; ON: DE92001163
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
MANUFACTURING
AMORPHOUS STATE
COST
DEPOSITION
ETCHING
POLYMERS
PROGRESS REPORT
SILICON
SUBSTRATES
ZINC OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SEMIMETALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE FINISHING
ZINC COMPOUNDS
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion