Metallic dispersion
AssigneeNanosolar, Inc.
InventorsMatthew R. Robinson, Martin R. Roscheisen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compound film may be formed by formulating a mixture of elemental nanoparticles composed of the Ib, the IIIa, and, optionally, the VIa group of elements having a controlled overall composition. The nanoparticle mixture is combined with a suspension of nanoglobules of gallium to form a dispersion. The dispersion may be deposited onto a substrate to form a layer on the substrate. The layer may then be reacted in a suitable atmosphere to form the compound film. The compound film may be used as a light-absorbing layer in a photovoltaic device.
Claims38
A process of forming a compound film comprising the steps of:
- heating elemental gallium to liquefy the elemental gallium;
- agitating the elemental gallium suspended in solution to form liquid gallium nanoglobules;
- quenching the liquid gallium nanoglobules to form solid nanoglobules of gallium with average diameters ranging from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm;
- formulating a dispersion of elemental nanoparticles of the Ib, the IIIa, and, optionally, the VIa group of elements, wherein gallium is incorporated as a IIIa element in the form of a suspension of said solid nanoglobules;
- depositing said dispersion onto a substrate to form a layer on the substrate;
- and reacting the layer in a suitable atmosphere to form said compound film.
A process of forming a compound film of a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of:
- heating elemental gallium to liquefy the elemental gallium;
- agitating the elemental gallium suspended in solution to form liquid gallium nanoglobules;
- quenching the liquid gallium nanoglobules to form solid nanoglobules of gallium with average diameters ranging from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm;
- formulating a dispersion of elemental nanoparticles of the Ib, the IIIa, and, optionally, the VIa group of elements, wherein gallium is incorporated as a IIIa element in the form of a suspension of said solid nanoglobules;
- depositing said dispersion onto a metal foil substrate to form a layer on the substrate;
- and reacting the layer in a suitable atmosphere to form said compound film.
A process of forming a compound film of a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of:
- heating elemental gallium to liquefy the elemental gallium;
- agitating the elemental gallium suspended in solution to form liquid gallium nanoglobules;
- quenching the liquid gallium nanoglobules to form solid nanoglobules of gallium with average diameters ranging from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm;
- formulating a dispersion of elemental nanoparticles of the Ib, the IIIa, and, optionally, the VIa group of elements, wherein gallium is incorporated as a IIIa element in the form of a suspension of said solid nanoglobules;
- depositing said dispersion onto a substrate to form a layer on the substrate;
- annealing the layer on the substrate, and reacting the layer in a suitable atmosphere to form said compound film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.