IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,112,075
Granted Patent B2
US 9,112,075 · App. 14/024,838 · Granted Aug 18, 2015

CIGS- or CZTS-based film solar cells and method for preparing the same

Inventors: Jong Ku Park (Gyeonggi-do, KR); So Hye Cho (Seoul, KR); Bong Geun Song (Seoul, KR); Seung Yong Lee (Gyeonngi-do, KR); Bo In Park (Gyeonngi-do, KR); Hyung Ho Park (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
H01L31/0322H01L31/0326H01L31/03923H01L31/072H01L31/0749Y02E10/541
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,112,075
App. No.
14/024,838
Granted
Aug 18, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS)- or copper zinc tin sulfur (CZTS)-based solar cell including a back electrode layer and a light-absorbing layer, wherein the light-absorbing layer has a composition of Cu x In y Ga 1-y (S z Se 1-z ) 2 (wherein 0.85≦x<1, 0<y<1, 0<z<1, and each of x, y and z represents a real number) or Cu (2-p) Zn (2-q) Sn q (S r Se (1-r) ) 4 (wherein 1.4≦p<2, 0<q<2, 0<r<2, and each of p, q and r represents a real number). The CIGS- or CZTS-based thin-film solar cell causes no interlayer delamination and has improved durability and photoelectric conversion efficiency. Also provided is a method for fabricating a CIGS- or CZTS-based thin-film solar cell by which conversion of molybdenum back electrode layer to molybdenum diselenide is controlled.

Claims (14)

1. A method for fabricating a copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS)-, copper zinc tin sulfur (CZTS)-, copper indium gallium selenium sulfur (CIGSS)- or copper zinc tin sulfur selenium (CZTSS)- based solar cell, comprising:

forming a molybdenum layer on one surface of a substrate;

forming a copper layer on the molybdenum layer;

forming a light-absorbing powder layer of copper indium gallium selenium or copper zinc tin sulfur on the copper layer; and

heat-treating the layers in an atmosphere comprising selenium under conditions wherein the light-absorbing powder layer is converted to a light-absorbing layer, wherein a density and thickness of the copper layer are selected such that the copper layer controls formation of molybdenum diselenide to within a desired limit and such that the copper layer is removed by being absorbed or diffused to the light-absorbing layer as a result of the heat-treating.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, ceramics, and polymers.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said forming a molybdenum layer comprises conducting at least one process selected from the group consisting of an electron beam coating, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition process.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said forming a copper layer comprises conducting at least one process selected from the group consisting of a (thermal) vacuum evaporation, electron beam coating, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and electrochemical deposition process.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light-absorbing powder layer has a composition of Cu x In y Ga 1-y (S z Se 1-z ) 2 (wherein 0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0<z<1, and each of x, y and z represents a real number) or Cu (2-p) Zn (2-q) Sn q (S r Se (1-r) ) 4 (wherein 0<p<2, 0<q<2, 0<r<2, and each of p, q and r represents a real number), and said forming a light-absorbing powder layer comprises conducting at least one process selected from the group consisting of a non-vacuum type process including a doctor blade coating process, a screen printing process, a spin coating process, a spray coating process, and a painting process, under non-vacuum environment.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said heat-treating the layers is conducted with inert or reductive selenium gas at 250-900° C., and the copper has a composition of Cu x In y Ga 1-y (S z Se 1-z ) 2 (wherein 0.85≦x<1, 0<y<1, 0<z<1, and each of x, y and z represents a real number) or Cu (2-p) Zn (2-q) Sn q (S r Se (1-r) ) 4 (wherein 1.4≦p<2, 0<q<2, 0<r<2, and each of p, q and r represents a real number).

7. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises forming a buffer layer on the light-absorbing layer, and said forming buffer layer is conducted by depositing CdS, ZnS(O,OH), ZnSe, InS(O,OH), In 2 S 3 , ZnIn x Se y , Zn 1-x Mg x O (wherein 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and each of x and y represents a real number) or a combination thereof through at least one process selected from the group consisting of a chemical bath deposition (CBD), electron beam coating, sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.

8. The method according to claim 7 , which further comprises forming a transparent electrode layer on the buffer layer, and said forming a transparent electrode layer is conducted by depositing ZnO, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), boron-doped zinc oxide (BZO), indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) or a combination thereof through an electron beam coating or sputtering process.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat treating is conducted at a temperature of 250 to 900° C.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the copper layer is formed to have a thickness corresponding to 1-10% of the thickness of the light-absorbing layer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2023
From: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
To: M.O.P CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064855/0723 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2013
From: PARK, JONG KU; CHO, SO HYE; SONG, BONG GEUN; LEE, SEUNG YONG; PARK, BO IN; PARK, HYUNG HO
To: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 031194/0211 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2012-0126525 · Nov 9, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140131728A1 · May 15, 2014