Roll-to-roll processing method and tools for electroless deposition of thin layers

1. A method of depositing a buffer layer material from a solution to an exposed surface of a solar cell absorber layer disposed on a continuous flexible workpiece for manufacturing solar cells as the continuous flexible workpiece is advanced through a roll-to-roll system, comprising:

advancing a section of the continuous flexible workpiece from a supply roll and having a flat shape onto a heated plate including a cavity area, wherein the cavity area of the heated plate is configured to elastically alter the section of the continuous flexible workpiece into a curved shape that conforms to the cavity area of the continuous flexible workpiece;

flowing a supply solution over an exposed surface of the solar cell absorber layer of the curved-shape section of the continuous flexible workpiece, wherein the supply solution is maintained at a first temperature before flowing into the section of the continuous flexible workpiece that conforms to the cavity area of the heated plate with the curved shape and wherein the supply solution includes all the chemical components of the buffer layer material;

heating, to a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, the continuous flexible workpiece and the solar cell absorber layer using the heated plate when the section of the continuous flexible workpiece is within the cavity area and conforming to the cavity area with the curved shape, wherein the heating of the continuous flexible workpiece and the absorber layer cause the transfer of heat from the solar cell absorber layer to at least a portion of the solution that is in contact with the exposed surface of the solar cell absorber layer and to cause depositing of the buffer layer material within the solution onto the exposed surface of the solar cell absorber layer; and

moving the section of the continuous flexible workpiece away from the cavity areas of the heated plate so that the section of the continuous flexible workpiece flattens.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising wrapping up the flattened continuous flexible workpiece around a receiving roll after the step of moving.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is in the range of 15-40 ° C. and the second temperature is in the range of 50-90° C.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution that forms the buffer layer material comprises at least one of Cd, Zn and In in addition to a sulfur source.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the heated plate further comprises a transition area between the supply roll and the cavity area of the heated plate; and wherein the step of advancing the section of the continuous flexible workpiece includes advancing the section over the transition area to aid in conforming the flexible workpiece into the curved shape.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heated plate is configured to elastically alter the section of the continuous flexible workpiece into the curved shape that conforms to the cavity area using an attractive force induced by a magnetic field.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the continuous flexible workpiece includes a magnetic substrate.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heated plate is configured to elastically alter the section of the continuous flexible workpiece into the curved shape that conforms to the cavity area using an attractive force induced by vacuum.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the continuous flexible workpiece includes one of a magnetic substrate and a non-magnetic substrate.