IP Library Granted Patent US 8,501,519
Granted Patent B2
US 8,501,519 · App. 13/515,721 · Granted Aug 6, 2013

Method of production of CIS-based thin film solar cell

Inventors: Hideki Hakuma (Tokyo, JP); Tetsuya Aramoto (Tokyo, JP); Yoshiyuki Chiba (Tokyo, JP); Yoshiaki Tanaka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,501,519
App. No.
13/515,721
Granted
Aug 6, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell comprises the steps of forming an alkali control layer on a high strain point glass substrate, forming a back surface electrode layer on the alkali control layer, forming a CIS-based light absorption layer on the back surface electrode layer, and forming an n-type transparent conductive film on the CIS-based light absorption layer, wherein the alkali control layer is formed to a thickness which allows heat diffusion of the alkali metal which is contained in the high strain point glass substrate to the CIS-based light absorption layer and, furthermore, the CIS-based light absorption layer has an alkali metal added to it from the outside in addition to heat diffusion from the high strain point glass substrate.

Claims (15)

1. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell, comprising the steps of,

forming an alkali control layer on a high strain point glass substrate,

forming a back surface electrode layer on said alkali control layer,

forming a CIS-based light absorption layer on said back surface electrode layer, and

forming an n-type transparent conductive film on said CIS-based light absorption layer,

wherein said alkali control layer is formed to a thickness which allows diffusion by heat treatment of the alkali metal which is contained in said high strain point glass substrate to said CIS-based light absorption layer and, furthermore, said CIS-based light absorption layer has an alkali metal added to it from the outside in addition to diffusion by heat treatment from said high strain point glass substrate.

2. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that said alkali control layer is formed of a silica film with a thickness of 3 to 12 nm.

3. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 2 , characterized in that said alkali control layer is formed of a silica film with a refractive index of 1.45 to 1.50 in range.

4. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that the amount of addition of said alkali metal is from 0.02 at % to 0.1 at %.

5. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that said alkali metal is Na.

6. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 5 , characterized in that said high strain point glass substrate has a thermal expansion coefficient of 8×10 −6 /° C. to 9×10 −6 /° C. in range and includes Na 2 O of 2 to 5 wt % in range.

7. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that said CIS-based light absorption layer is formed by forming a metal precursor film which contains said alkali metal on said back surface electrode layer and selenizing/sulfurizing the metal precursor film.

8. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 7 , characterized in that the metal precursor film is formed by sputtering and the alkali metal is added to the CuGa sputter target.

9. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that said CIS-based light absorption layer is made of a five component compound having Cu, In, Ga, Se, and S as main ingredients.

10. A method of production of a CIS-based thin film solar cell as set forth in claim 9 , characterized in that said CIS-based light absorption layer is formed by selenization/sulfurization of a multilayer structure which contains Cu, In, and Ga or a metal precursor film of mixed crystals of the same.

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 Jun 19, 2012
From: HAKUMA, HIDEKI; ARAMOTO, TETSUYA; CHIBA, YOSHIYUKI; TANAKA, YOSHIAKI
To: SHOWA SHELL SEKIYU K.K.
Reel/Frame 028401/0047 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-285318 · Dec 16, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120258562A1 · Oct 11, 2012