IP Library Granted Patent US 9,181,437
Granted Patent B2
US 9,181,437 · App. 13/575,670 · Granted Nov 10, 2015

Bath deposition solution for the wet-chemical deposition of a metal sulfide layer and related production method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,181,437
App. No.
13/575,670
Granted
Nov 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bath deposition solution for the chemical bath deposition of a metal sulfide layer, a process for the production of such a bath deposition solution, and a process for producing a metal sulfide layer on a substrate using such a bath deposition solution are provided. The bath deposition solution contains a metal salt, an organosulfide, a chelating agent which with metal ions of the metal salt forms a chelate complex and ammonium hydroxide.

Claims (22)

1. A bath deposition solution for chemical bath deposition of a metal sulfide layer, the bath deposition solution comprising:

a metal salt;

an organosulfide;

a chelating agent which with metal ions of the metal salt forms a chelate complex; and

ammonium hydroxide, wherein

the organosulfide is thioacetamide, and

the chelating agent is one of nitrilotriacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, and a metal salt thereof.

2. The bath deposition solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the metal salt is at least one of a Zn and an In salt.

3. The bath deposition solution as claimed in claim 2 , wherein at least one of:

the metal salt is present in a concentration of from about 1 mM to about 50 mM,

the organosulfide is present in a concentration of from about 1 mM to about 150 mM,

the chelating agent is present in a concentration of from about 0.01 M to about 1.0 M, and

the ammonium hydroxide is present in a concentration of from about 0.01 M to about 3.0 M.

4. The bath deposition solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of:

the metal salt is present in a concentration of from about 1 mM to about 50 mM,

the organosulfide is present in a concentration of from about 1 mM to about 150 mM,

the chelating agent is present in a concentration of from about 0.01 M to about 1.0 M, and

the ammonium hydroxide is present in a concentration of from about 0.01 M to about 3.0 M.

5. The bath deposition solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the solution has a pH in the basic range up to the neutral range.

6. The bath deposition solution as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the solution has a pH in the basic range up to the neutral range.

7. The bath deposition solution as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the solution has a pH in the basic range up to the neutral range.

Assignments (6)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 11, 2025
From: FIRST SOLAR INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 072887/0601 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2024
From: ZENTRUM FÜR SONNENENERGIE- UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG
To: FIRST SOLAR GMBH
Reel/Frame 069598/0923 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2024
From: NICE SOLAR ENERGY GMBH
To: ZENTRUM FÜR SONNENENERGIE- UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG
Reel/Frame 069598/0944 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2024
From: FIRST SOLAR GMBH
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 069598/0965 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 20, 2019
From: MANZ CIGS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
To: NICE SOLAR ENERGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 050457/0041 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2012
From: BUERKERT, LINDA; HARISKOS, DIMITRIOS; KOLB, TORSTEN; FUCHS, BETTINA
To: MANZ CIGS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 029248/0849 →