Multilayer Thin-Film Back Contact System For Flexible Photovoltaic Devices On Polymer Substrates
AssigneeAscent Solar Technologies, Inc.
InventorsLawrence M. Woods, Hobart Stevens, Joseph H. Armstrong
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Abstract
A polymer substrate and back contact structure for a photovoltaic element, and a photovoltaic element include a CIGS photovoltaic structure, a polymer substrate having a device side at which the photovoltaic element can be located and a back side opposite the device side. A layer of dielectric is formed at the back side of the polymer substrate. A metal structure is formed at the device side of the polymer substrate.
Claims27
A method for forming a photovoltaic element, comprising:
- disposing a first adhesion layer on a back side of a polymer substrate;
- disposing a dielectric layer on the first adhesion layer;
- after the step of disposing the dielectric layer, disposing a metal structure on a device side of the polymer substrate, the device side being opposite of the back side;
- and
- disposing a CIGS photovoltaic structure on the metal structure.
A method for forming a photovoltaic element, comprising:
- disposing a dielectric layer on a back side of a polymer substrate;
- disposing a metallic film layer on a device side of the polymer substrate, the device side being opposite of the back side;
- disposing a molybdenum cap layer on the metallic film layer at least partially using a vacuum-based sputter deposition process at a pressure of less than 20 millitorr;
- and
- disposing a CIGS photovoltaic structure on the molybdenum cap layer.
A method for forming a photovoltaic element, comprising:
- disposing a backside metal layer on a back side of a polymer substrate using a vacuum-based sputter deposition process at a pressure of less than 6 millitorr;
- disposing a metallic film layer on a device side of the polymer substrate, the device side being opposite of the back side;
- disposing a molybdenum cap layer on the metallic film layer;
- and
- disposing a CIGS photovoltaic structure on the molybdenum cap layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.