Back to results
US 2017/0323997 A1Published application
Methods of forming thin-film photovoltaic devices with discontinuous passivation layers
AssigneeSiva Power, Inc.
InventorsMarkus Eberhard Beck, Timothy J. Nagle, Sourav Roger Basu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various embodiments, photovoltaic devices incorporate discontinuous passivation layers (i) disposed between a thin-film absorber layer and a partner layer, (ii) disposed between the partner layer and a front contact layer, and/or (iii) disposed between a back contact layer and the thin-film absorber layer.
Claims31
-35. (canceled)
A photovoltaic device configured for top illumination by solar energy, the photovoltaic device comprising:
- a back contact layer comprising a conductive material;
- a discontinuous back reflector disposed over the back contact layer;
- a thin-film absorber layer disposed over an in electrical contact with the back contact layer, the thin-film absorber layer (i) having a doping polarity and (ii) comprising CdTe, chalcopyrite, or kesterite, wherein (a) the thin-film absorber layer makes direct electrical contact to the back contact layer through discontinuities in the discontinuous back reflector, and (b) the discontinuous back reflector is positioned to reflect solar energy passing through the thin-film absorber layer back through the thin-film absorber layer in a direction away from the back contact layer;
- a partner layer disposed over and in electrical contact with the thin-film absorber layer, the partner layer having a doping polarity opposite that of the thin-film absorber layer;
- a front contact layer disposed over and in electrical contact with the partner layer, the front contact layer comprising a second conductive material;
- and
- a discontinuous passivation layer disposed between the partner layer and the front contact layer, the front contact layer making electrical contact with the partner layer only through discontinuities in the discontinuous passivation layer,
- wherein, between the discontinuities in the discontinuous passivation layer, the front contact layer extends, as a continuous layer, over an entirety of the discontinuous passivation layer.
5 more elements
A photovoltaic device configured for top illumination by solar energy, the photovoltaic device comprising:
- a back contact layer comprising a conductive material;
- a discontinuous back reflector disposed over the back contact layer;
- a thin-film absorber layer disposed over an in electrical contact with the back contact layer, the thin-film absorber layer (i) having a doping polarity and (ii) comprising CdTe, chalcopyrite, or kesterite, wherein (a) the thin-film absorber layer makes direct electrical contact to the back contact layer through discontinuities in the discontinuous back reflector, and (b) the discontinuous back reflector is positioned to reflect solar energy passing through the thin-film absorber layer back through the thin-film absorber layer in a direction away from the back contact layer;
- a partner layer disposed over and in electrical contact with the thin-film absorber layer, the partner layer having a doping polarity opposite that of the thin-film absorber layer;
- a front contact layer disposed over and in electrical contact with the partner layer, the front contact layer (i) comprising a second conductive material and (ii) being disposed over an entirety of the partner layer;
- and
- a discontinuous passivation layer disposed between the back contact layer and the thin-film absorber layer, the thin-film absorber layer making electrical contact with the back contact layer only through discontinuities in the discontinuous passivation layer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.