Light Transmittance Optimizing Coated Glass Article for Solar Cell and Method for Making

A method of forming a coated article suitable for use as a component of a solar cell, comprising:

• providing a heated dielectric substrate;
• depositing over the substrate a transparent, electrically conductive metal oxide layer having a refractive index less than 2.0;
• depositing a light transmittance optimizing interlayer over the conductive metal oxide layer, the light transmittance optimizing interlayer having a refractive index between 2.3 and 3.5;
• and
• depositing a silicon layer over the light transmittance optimizing interlayer, the silicon layer having a refractive index of at least 4.5.

A transparent, coated glass article suitable for use as a component of a solar cell comprising:

• a transparent dielectric substrate;
• a transparent, electrically conductive metal oxide layer having a refractive index less than 2.0 deposited over the dielectric substrate;
• a light transmittance optimizing interlayer deposited over the conductive metal oxide layer, the light transmittance optimizing interlayer having a refractive index between 2.3 and 3.5;
• and
• a silicon layer having a refractive index of at least 4.5 deposited over the light transmittance optimizing interlayer;
• wherein the coated article has a glass side reflectance of 5.2 to 8.0.

A coated article suitable for use as a component of a solar cell comprising:

• a transparent dielectric substrate;
• a transparent, electrically conductive metal oxide layer, having a refractive index less than 2.0, deposited over the dielectric substrate;
• a light transmittance optimizing interlayer deposited directly on the conductive metal oxide layer, the light transmittance optimizing interlayer having a refractive index between 2.3 and 3.5;
• and
• a silicon layer having a refractive index of at least 4.5 deposited over the light transmittance optimizing interlayer.

A coated article suitable for use as a component of a solar cell comprising:

• a transparent dielectric substrate;
• a transparent, electrically conductive tin oxide layer, having a refractive index less than 2.0, deposited over the dielectric substrate;
• a light transmittance optimizing interlayer deposited directly on the conductive tin oxide layer, the light transmittance optimizing the interlayer comprising an oxide of titanium deposited at a thickness of 300 Å-600 Å;
• and
• a silicon layer having a refractive index of at least 4.5 deposited over the light transmittance optimizing interlayer.

A coated article suitable for use as a component of a solar cell comprising:

• a transparent glass substrate;
• a transparent, electrically conductive tin oxide layer, having a refractive index less than 2.0, deposited over the dielectric substrate;
• a light transmittance optimizing interlayer deposited directly on the conductive tin oxide layer, the light transmittance optimizing interlayer comprising TiO2 deposited at a thickness of 450 Å-500 Å;
• and
• a silicon layer having a refractive index of at least 4.5 deposited over the light transmittance optimizing interlayer.