Method for producing thin-film solar cells
AssigneesChina Triumph International Engineering Co., Ltd., Ctf Solar GmbH
InventorsKrishnakumar Velappan, Bastian Siepchen, Bettina Späth, Christian Drost, Shou Peng
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Abstract
A method to produce thin film solar cells in superstrate or substrate configuration is an efficient way to minimize the loss due to absorption in CdS layer and to eliminate the CdCl2 activation treatment step. This is achieved by applying a sacrificial metal-halide layer between the CdS-layer and the CdTe-layer of the solar cells.
Claims17
A method for producing a solar cell in a superstrate configuration, comprising the steps:
- a. making available a transparent substrate,
- b. applying a transparent front contact layer,
- c. applying a CdS layer,
- d. applying a sacrificial layer of a metal-halide compound,
- e. applying a CdTe layer and break-up of the sacrificial layer, including diffusion of the major part of the metal ions into the CdS layer and the major part of the halide ions into the CdTe layer, wherein the CdTe layer from a first partial layer with a percentage of up to 25% of the total layer thickness is produced, in a temperature range of room temperature to 200° C., and the remaining second CdTe partial layer is produced in a temperature range of 350° C. to 550° C., and
- f. applying the back contact layer.
A method for producing a solar cell in substrate configuration, comprising the steps:
- a. making available a substrate,
- b. applying the back contact layer
- c. applying a CdTe layer
- d. applying a sacrificial layer of a metal-halide compound,
- e. applying a CdS layer and break-up of the sacrificial layer, including diffusion of the major part of the metal ions into the CdS layer and the major part of the halide ions into the CdTe layer, wherein the CdTe layer from a first partial layer with a percentage up to 75% of the total layer thickness is produced in a temperature range of 350° C. to 550° C. and the remaining second CdTe partial layer is produced in a temperature range of room temperature to 200° C., and
- f. applying a transparent front contact layer.
A method for producing a solar cell in substrate configuration, comprising the steps:
- a. making available a substrate,
- b. applying the back contact layer
- c. applying a CdTe layer
- d. applying a sacrificial layer of a metal-halide compound,
- e. applying a CdS layer and break-up of the sacrificial layer, including diffusion of the major part of the metal ions into the CdS layer and the major part of the halide ions into the CdTe layer, the CdS layer from a first partial layer with a percentage up to 25% of the total layer thickness is produced in a temperature range of 100° C. to 200° C. and the remaining second CdS partial layer is produced in a temperature range of 350-550° C., and
- f. applying a transparent front contact layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.