Photovoltaic devices printed from nanostructured particles

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for high-throughput printing of semiconductor precursor layer from microflake particles. In one embodiment, a solar cell is provided that comprises of a substrate, a back electrode formed over the substrate, a p-type semiconductor thin film formed over the back electrode, an n-type semiconductor thin film formed so as to constitute a pn junction with the p-type semiconductor thin film, and a transparent electrode formed over the n-type semiconductor thin film. The p-type semiconductor thin film results by processing a dense film formed from a plurality of microflakes having a material composition containing at least one element from Groups IB, IIIA, and/or VIA, wherein the dense film has a void volume of about 26% or less. The dense film may be a substantially void free film.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.