Method and system for forming absorber layer on metal coated glass for photovoltaic devices

An apparatus for forming a solar cell, comprising:

• a vacuum chamber;
• a rotatable substrate support of a polygonal shape inside the vacuum chamber configured to hold at least one substrate;
• a rotatable drum disposed within the vacuum chamber, the rotatable drum having a polygonal shape, comprising supporting beams;
• at least one sputtering source, configured to deposit a respective first ingredient;
• at least one evaporation source in the vacuum chamber and configured to deposit a second ingredient;
• at least one inner heater, each of the at least one inner heater configured to heat a back surface of a respective substrate on the substrate support;
• and
• at least one outer heater between a shell of the vacuum chamber and the rotatable substrate support, the at least one outer heater configured to heat a front surface of a substrate on the substrate support.

An apparatus for forming a solar cell, comprising:

• a housing defining a vacuum chamber;
• a rotatable substrate support inside the vacuum chamber configured to hold a substrate;
• at least one inner heater between a center of the vacuum chamber and the substrate support, and configured to heat a back surface of a substrate on the substrate support;
• at least one outer heater between the housing and the substrate support, the at least one outer heater configured to heat a front surface of the substrate on the substrate support;
• and
• at least one sputtering source, each of the at least one sputtering source configured to deposit a respective first ingredient for an absorber layer over a front surface of the substrate.