IP Library Granted Patent US 8,530,267
Granted Patent B2
US 8,530,267 · App. 13/124,384 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Silicon-based thin film solar cell and method for manufacturing same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,530,267
App. No.
13/124,384
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for manufacturing a silicon-based thin film solar cell including a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit which contains a p-type layer ( 4 p ), a crystalline i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer ( 4 ic ), and an n-type layer ( 4 nc ) stacked in this order from a transparent substrate side is provided. In one example, an n-type silicon-based thin film layer ( 4 na ) is formed on the crystalline i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer ( 4 ic ), the n-type silicon-based thin film layer ( 4 na ) having an n-type silicon alloy layer having a film thickness of 1-12 nm and being in contact with the crystalline i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer.

Claims (13)

1. A method for manufacturing a hybrid silicon-based thin film solar cell including an amorphous silicon photoelectric conversion unit and a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit stacked on a transparent substrate side, the method comprising steps of:

in an amorphous unit formation step, forming the amorphous silicon photoelectric conversion unit;

in a crystalline unit formation step, forming the crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit on the amorphous silicon photoelectric conversion unit;

wherein the amorphous unit formation step comprises a step of forming a first p-type layer, an amorphous i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer and a first n-type layer, in this order;

wherein the crystalline unit formation step comprises a step of forming a second p-type layer, a crystalline i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer, an n-type silicon-based thin film layer, and a second n-type layer, in this order;

wherein the n-type silicon-based thin film layer includes an n-type silicon alloy layer and an n-type amorphous silicon layer thereon, the n-type silicon alloy layer being in contact with the crystalline i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer and having a film thickness of 1 to 12 nm; and

wherein the second n-type layer formed on the n-type amorphous silicon layer of the n-type silicon-based thin film layer is an n-type microcrystalline silicon layer.

2. The method for manufacturing a silicon-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the n-type amorphous silicon layer is formed so as to have a film thickness which is 60% or more of a film thickness of a whole of the n-type silicon-based thin film layer.

3. The method for manufacturing a silicon-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the n-type silicon alloy layer consists essentially of a hydrogen element, a silicon element, and one or more elements selected from oxygen, carbon and nitrogen.

4. The method for manufacturing a silicon-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the n-type silicon alloy layer is an n-type amorphous silicon carbide layer.

5. The method for manufacturing a silicon-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the crystalline i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer is formed at an average film formation speed of 0.5 nm/sec or more.

6. A silicon-based thin film solar cell produced by the method of manufacturing a silicon-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 .

7. The silicon-based thin film solar cell according to claim 6 , wherein, in a Raman spectrum measured by irradiating the crystalline i-type silicon photoelectric conversion layer with a laser having a wavelength of 633 nm from a side opposite to the transparent substrate, a peak present at 520 cm −1 exhibits a peak intensity of 4.8 times or more of an average intensity at 480 to 490 cm −1 .

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Sep 12, 2013
From: KANEKA CORPORATION
To: KANEKA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031207/0283 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2011
From: YOSHIKAWA, KUNTA; ICHIKAWA, MITSURU; YAMAMOTO, KENJI
To: KANEKA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026130/0643 →