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US 2025/0160041 A1Published application
Photovoltaic devices and method of making
AssigneeFirst Solar, Inc.
InventorsHolly Ann Blaydes, Kristian William Andreini, William Hullinger Huber, Eugene Thomas Hinners, Joseph John Shiang, Yong Liang, Jongwoo Choi
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Abstract
A photovoltaic device is presented. The photovoltaic device includes a layer stack; and an absorber layer is disposed on the layer stack. The absorber layer comprises selenium, wherein an atomic concentration of selenium varies across a thickness of the absorber layer. The photovoltaic device is substantially free of a cadmium sulfide layer.
Claims18
A photovoltaic device, comprising:
- a layer stack, wherein the layer stack is transparent;
- and
- an absorber layer disposed on the layer stack and configured to receive solar radiation through the layer stack, wherein:
- the absorber layer comprises selenium;
- an atomic concentration of selenium varies across a thickness of the absorber layer;
- the absorber layer comprises a first region and a second region, the first region disposed proximate to the layer stack relative to the second region;
- an average atomic concentration of selenium in the first region is greater than an average atomic concentration of selenium in the second region;
- a ratio of the average atomic concentration of selenium in the first region to the average atomic concentration of selenium in the second region is greater than 2;
- and
- at least a portion of the selenium is present in the absorber layer in the form of a ternary compound of cadmium, selenium, and tellurium.
7 more elements
A method of making a photovoltaic device, comprising:
- providing an absorber layer on a layer stack, wherein the layer stack is transparent, and the absorber layer is configured to receive solar radiation through the layer stack, wherein:
- the absorber layer comprises selenium;
- an atomic concentration of selenium varies across a thickness of the absorber layer;
- the absorber layer comprises a first region and a second region, the first region disposed proximate to the layer stack relative to the second region;
- an average atomic concentration of selenium in the first region is greater than an average atomic concentration of selenium in the second region;
- a ratio of the average atomic concentration of selenium in the first region to the average atomic concentration of selenium in the second region is greater than 2;
- and
- at least a portion of the selenium is present in the absorber layer in the form of a ternary compound of cadmium, selenium, and tellurium.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.