SOLAR MODULE DARKENING PROCESS
A solar cell module with darkened metallic components is disclosed. A method of darkening the visible metallic components of the solar cells of a solar cell module is disclosed. The method creates a dark patina on the metallic components of a solar cell.
1 . A method comprising:
exposing a metallic component of a solar module to an environmental condition such that an appearance of the metallic component is darkened.
2 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the environmental condition is in the liquid phase.
3 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the environmental condition comprises sulfur.
4 . A method as in claim 3 wherein the environmental condition comprises hydrogen sulfide.
5 . A method as in claim 3 wherein the environmental condition comprises liver of sulfur.
6 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the environmental condition comprises at least one of ozone, hydrogen peroxide, sulfur, and chlorine.
7 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the environmental condition is in the gas phase.
8 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the metallic component comprises silver.
9 . A method as in claim 8 wherein the silver comprises a silver finger.
10 . An apparatus comprising:
a solar module comprising a front surface including a dark photovoltaic material and a metallic component having a dark patina.
11 . An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the metallic component comprises silver.
12 . An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the dark patina comprises silver sulfide.
13 . An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the dark patina comprises silver oxide.
14 . An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the dark patina comprises silver chloride.
15 . An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the metallic component comprises a conductive finger.