Textured rear electrode structure for use in photovoltaic device such as CIGS/CIS solar cell
AssigneeGuardian Industries Corp.
InventorLeonard L. Boyer, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photovoltaic device including a rear electrode which may also function as a rear reflector. In certain example embodiments, the rear electrode comprises a reflective film (e.g., of Mo or the like) including one or more layers provided on an interior surface of a rear glass substrate of the photovoltaic device. In certain example embodiments, the interior surface(s) of the rear glass substrate and/or reflective film is/are textured so as to provide desirable electrical and reflective characteristics. The rear glass substrate and textured rear electrode/reflector are used in a photovoltaic device (e.g., CIS or CIGS solar cell) where an active semiconductor film is provided between the rear electrode/reflector and a front electrode(s).
Claims18
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a front substrate;
- a front substantially transparent conductive electrode;
- an active semiconductor film;
- a conductive and reflective rear electrode;
- a rear glass substrate that supports at least the rear electrode;
- and
- wherein the rear electrode comprises a layer comprising Mo that is oxidation graded, continuously or discontinuously, so as to be more metallic at a location therein closer to the semiconductor film than at a location therein closer to the rear glass substrate.
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a front substrate;
- a front substantially transparent conductive electrode;
- an active semiconductor film;
- a semiconductive and reflective rear electrode;
- a rear glass substrate that supports at least the rear electrode;
- and
- wherein the rear electrode comprises a first layer comprising Ti and/or Cr and a second conductive layer comprising Mo provided on the rear glass substrate over at least the first layer, so that the first layer comprising Ti and/or Cr is located between the rear glass substrate and the second layer comprising Mo.
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a front substantially transparent conductive electrode;
- a semiconductor film;
- a conductive and reflective rear electrode comprising Mo;
- a rear glass substrate that supports at least the rear electrode comprising Mo;
- and
- wherein a surface of the rear glass substrate closest to the semiconductor film is textured so as to have peaks and valleys defined therein, and the rear electrode comprising Mo is provided on the rear glass substrate over the peaks and valleys defined in the rear glass substrate so that the rear electrode comprising Mo also has peaks and valleys defined in a surface thereof closest to the semiconductor film.
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a front substrate;
- a front substantially transparent conductive electrode;
- an absorber semiconductor film;
- a conductive and reflective rear electrode;
- a rear glass substrate that supports at least the rear electrode;
- and
- wherein the rear electrode comprises a first layer comprising an oxide of Mo and a second conductive layer comprising substantially metallic Mo provided on the rear glass substrate over at least the first layer, so that the first layer comprising the oxide of Mo is located between the rear glass substrate and the second layer comprising substantially metallic Mo.
A method of making a photovoltaic device, the method comprising:
- providing a glass substrate;
- depositing a conductive electrode comprising Mo on the glass substrate, and then texturing a major surface of the electrode comprising Mo thereby providing a textured electrode comprising Mo having a textured reflective surface;
- and
- using the textured electrode comprising Mo, supported by at least the glass substrate, as a rear electrode in a photovoltaic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.