Fabrication of polycrystalline solar cells on low-cost substrates
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorTing L. Chu
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Abstract
Low-cost polycrystalline silicon cells supported on substrates are prepared by depositing successive layers of polycrystalline silicon containing appropriate dopants over supporting substrates of a member selected from the group consisting of metallurgical-grade polycrystalline silicon, graphite and steel coated with a diffusion barrier of silica, borosilicate, phosphosilicate, or mixtures thereof such that p-n junction devices are formed which effectively convert solar energy to electrical energy.
Claims5
A method of fabricating low-cost polycrystalline silicon solar cells supported on a steel substrate, which comprises:
- coating said steel substrate with a diffusion barrier selected from the group consisting of silica, borosilicate, phosphosilicate or mixtures thereof;
- and depositing successive layers of polycrystalline silicon containing appropriate dopants over said coated steel substrate such that p-n junction devices are formed which effectively convert solar energy to electrical energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.