IP Library Granted Patent US 7,989,256
Granted Patent B2
US 7,989,256 · App. 12/671,068 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Method for manufacturing CIS-based thin film solar cell

Assignee: Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,989,256
App. No.
12/671,068
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

In order to manufacture a CIS-based thin film solar cell that can achieve high photoelectric conversion efficiency by adding an alkali element to a light absorbing layer easily and with good controllability, a backside electrode layer ( 2 ) is formed on a substrate ( 1 ). Then, a p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer ( 3 ) is formed on backside electrode layer ( 2 ), and then an n-type transparent and electroconductive film ( 5 ) is formed on this p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer ( 3 ). At this time, the backside electrode layer ( 2 ) is constituted by forming a first electrode layer ( 21 ) using a backside electrode material in which an alkali metal is mixed and, then forming a second electrode layer ( 22 ) using the backside electrode material that does not substantially contain the alkali metal.

Claims (15)

1. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell comprising:

forming a backside electrode layer on a substrate;

forming a p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer on said backside electrode layer; and

forming an n-type transparent and electroconductive film on said p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer,

wherein said forming of said backside electrode layer comprises forming a first electrode layer using a first target or a first evaporation source that comprises a backside electrode material and an alkali metal and forming a second electrode layer using a second target or a second evaporation source that comprises said backside electrode material but does not substantially contain an alkali metal.

2. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein said substrate is formed of any of high strain point glass, non-alkali glass, metal and resin.

3. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 2 , wherein said backside electrode material is Mo and said alkali metal is Na.

4. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 3 , wherein said first electrode layer is formed using Mo containing at least 0.3 at % of Na as a target or an evaporation source.

5. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 3 , wherein said second electrode layer is formed using Mo containing 0.01 at.% or less of Na as a target or an evaporation source.

6. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 4 , wherein said second electrode layer is formed using Mo containing 0.01 at. % or less of Na as a target or an evaporation source.

7. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer are formed by any of sputtering, evaporation and ion plating.

8. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein said backside electrode material is any of Mo, Ti and Cr.

9. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein said alkali metal is any of Na, K and Li.

10. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein said p-type light absorbing layer is formed by selenization/sulfurization or multi-source coevaporation.

11. A method for manufacturing a CIS-based thin film solar cell according to claim 1 , further comprising forming an n-type high resistance buffer layer between said forming said p-type light absorbing layer and said forming said n-type transparent and electroconductive film.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2014
From: SHOWA SHELL SEKIYU K.K.
To: SOLAR FRONTIER K.K.
Reel/Frame 034382/0537 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2010
From: HAKUMA, HIDEKI; TANAKA, YOSHIAKI; KURIYAGAWA, SATORU
To: SHOWA SHELL SEKIYU K.K.
Reel/Frame 023984/0853 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-131269 · May 19, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100210064A1 · Aug 19, 2010