IP Library Patent Application 12421184
Patent Application
App. No. 12/421,184

THIN FILM SILICON SOLAR CELL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/421,184
Abstract

A thin film silicon solar cell comprises a front transparent electrode, a p-type window layer, a buffer layer, an i-type absorber layer, an n-type layer and a metal rear electrode. The front transparent electrode is stacked on a transparent substrate. The p-type window layer is stacked on the front transparent electrode, and has a thickness in a range of 12 nm to 17 nm. The buffer layer is stacked on the p-type window layer, and has a carbon concentration in a range of 0.5 to 3.0 atomic % and a thickness in a range of 3 to 8 nm. The i-type absorber layer is stacked on the buffer layer. The n-type layer is stacked on the i-type absorber layer. The metal rear electrode is stacked on the n-type layer.

Claims (28)

1 . A thin film silicon solar cell comprising:

a front transparent electrode stacked on a transparent substrate;

a p-type window layer stacked on the front transparent electrode, and having a thickness in a range of 12 nm to 17 nm;

a buffer layer stacked on the p-type window layer, having a carbon concentration in a range of 0.5 to 3.0 atomic % and a thickness in a range of 3 to 8 nm;

an i-type absorber layer stacked on the buffer layer;

an n-type layer stacked on the i-type absorber layer; and

a metal rear electrode stacked on the n-type layer.

2 . The thin film silicon solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer layer includes a hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide.

3 . The thin film silicon solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the p-type window layer has an electric conductivity of 1×10 −6 S/cm.

4 . The thin film silicon solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the p-type window layer includes a hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide.

5 . The thin film silicon solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the p-type window layer has a constant optical band gap.

6 . A method for manufacturing a thin film silicon solar cell comprising:

stacking a front transparent electrode on a transparent substrate;

stacking a p-type window layer on the front transparent electrode to have a silane concentration in a range of 5 to 10% and a thickness in a range of 12 nm to 17 nm;

stacking a buffer layer stacked on the p-type window layer to have a silane concentration in a range of 0.5 to 5% and a thickness in a range of 3 to 8 nm;

stacking an i-type absorber layer on the buffer layer;

stacking an n-type layer on the i-type absorber layer; and

stacking a metal rear electrode on the n-type layer.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the buffer layer is formed by a flow rate ratio of an boron source gas ranging from 100 to 2000 ppm in the step of stacking the buffer layer.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the buffer layer has a carbon concentration in a range of 0.5 to 3.0 atomic %.

9 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the p-type window layer and the buffer layer are deposited by RF PECVD or VHF PECVD.

10 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the p-type window layer and the buffer layer are formed by reaction gas comprising silane (SiH 4 ), hydrogen (H 2 ), boron source gas, and carbon source gas.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the boron source gas comprises any one of diborane (B 2 H 6 ), trimethyl boron (TMB), and triethyl boron (TEB).

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the carbon source gas comprises any one of methane (CH 4 ), ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), and acetylene (C 2 H 2 ).

13 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein a temperature of the transparent substrate ranges from 100 to 200□ during deposition of the p-type window layer.

14 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein a base pressure of a reaction chamber ranges from 10 −7 to 10 −5 Torr during deposition of the p-type window layer.

15 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein a deposition pressure of a reaction chamber ranges from 0.4 to 2 Torr during deposition of the p-type window layer.

16 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the p-type window layer has an electric conductivity of 1×10 −6 S/cm.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2010
From: KISCO CORPORATION
To: KISCO
Reel/Frame 023902/0856 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME ON COVER SHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023243 FRAME 0563. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE COVER SHEET INDICATED AS KISCO SHOULD BE INDICATED AS KISCO CORPORATION AS IDENTIFIED ON THE ORIGINAL ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT. Recorded Feb 3, 2010
From: MYONG, SEUNG-YEOP
To: KISCO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023890/0086 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2009
From: MYONG, SEUNG-YEOP
To: KISCO
Reel/Frame 023243/0563 →