Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120055554 | COPPER ZINC TIN CHALCOGENIDE NANOPARTICLES - This invention relates to nanoparticles of kesterite (copper zinc tin sulfide) and copper zinc tin selenide nanoparticles, inks and devices thereof, and processes to prepare same. The nano-particles are useful to for the absorber layer as a p-type semiconductor in a thin film solar cell application. | 03-08-2012 |
20120060928 | PROCESSES FOR PREPARING COPPER TIN SULFIDE AND COPPER ZINC TIN SULFIDE FILMS - This invention relates to processes for preparing films of CTS and CZTS and their selenium analogues on a substrate. Such films are useful in the preparation of photovoltaic devices. This invention also relates to processes for preparing coated substrates and for making photovoltaic devices. | 03-15-2012 |
20120122270 | ETCHING METHOD FOR USE WITH THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL - The present invention relates to a chemical etching method to electrically isolate the edge from the interior of a thin-film photovoltaic panel comprising a substrate and a photovoltaic laminate. The method comprises a step to dispense an etching paste comprising two or more acids on the laminate periphery; an optional step to apply heat to the laminate; and a step to remove the etching paste. The method is further characterized by the chemical removal of at least two chemically distinctive layers of the laminate at the periphery where the etching paste is applied. The method may be used to produce a thin-film photovoltaic panel. | 05-17-2012 |
20120122271 | ETCHING METHOD TO INCREASE LIGHT TRANSMISSION IN THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS - The present invention relates to a chemical etching method for removing portions of material from the photovoltaic laminate of a thin-film photovoltaic panel. The method involves disposing a pre-determined pattern of an etching paste onto the back electrode of the photovoltaic laminate, and then removing the etching paste after a sufficient dwell time. | 05-17-2012 |
20120180852 | ETCHING COMPOSITION - The invention relates to a chemical etching composition and to methods to produce a photovoltaic cell with transparent regions. The methods comprise a step to locally dispense an etching composition on the photovoltaic cell in a pattern, or adjacent to the edge thereof; an optional step to apply heat to the cell; and a step to remove the etching composition. The methods are further characterized by the chemical removal of one or more chemically distinctive layers of the photovoltaic cell where the etching composition is applied. The methods may be used to produce a thin film photovoltaic panel. | 07-19-2012 |
20120288987 | AQUEOUS PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CRYSTALLINE COPPER CHALCOGENIDE NANOPARTICLES, THE NANOPARTICLES SO-PRODUCED, AND INKS AND COATED SUBSTRATES INCORPORATING THE NANOPARTICLES - The present invention relates to aqueous processes to make metal chalcogenide nanoparticles that are useful precursors to copper zinc tin sulfide/selenide and copper tin sulfide/selenide. In addition, this invention provides processes for preparing crystalline particles from the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, as well as processes for preparing inks from both the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and the crystalline particles. | 11-15-2012 |
20120291835 | ARRAY OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS HAVING A TOTALLY SEPARATED INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE AND A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - An array of at least three series-connected solar cells has a cell level integrated bypass diode formed by total separation from a selected parent cell. The material of the first type of the diode is connected to the material of the second type of any one chosen solar cell in the array. The material of the second type of the diode is connected with the material of the first type of the one chosen solar cell in the array so that the diode is connected in parallel and in opposition to the one chosen solar cell. | 11-22-2012 |
20120291836 | ARRAY OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS HAVING AN ETCHANT-RESISTANT ELECTRODE AN AN INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE ASSOCIATED WITH A PLURALITY OF CELLS AND A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - An array of series-connected solar cells each having a front electrode formed of a transparent conductive oxide resistant to an etchant that defines a first interface with a semiconducting material of the first type and a back electrode that defines a second interface with a semiconducting material of the second type. A bypass diode formed through separation from a parent cell has first and second interfaces that are substantially coplanar with the respective first and second interfaces defined in a first solar cell. A conductor connects the semiconducting material of the second type of the diode with the semiconducting material of the first type of a third solar cell in the array so that the diode is electrically connected in parallel and in opposition to the second and the third solar cells in the array and all solar cells connected intermediate therebetween. | 11-22-2012 |
20120295387 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL HAVING AN ETCHANT-RESISTANT ELECTRODE AND AN INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE AND A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - A method for producing a thin-film solar cell with a cell level integrated bypass diode includes forming at least first, second and third series-connected cells on a support, each cell being a laminated structure comprising a junction layer including semiconducting material of a first and second type, a front electrode formed of a transparent conductive oxide resistant to an etchant disposed in electrical contact with the semiconducting material of the first type, and a back electrode in electrical contact with the semiconducting material of the second type. A portion of both the back electrode and the junction layer are separated from a selected parent solar cell. Using the separated portion of the back electrode the semiconducting material of the second type of the separated portion of the junction layer is connected to the semiconducting material of the first type of any one chosen solar cell in the array. | 11-22-2012 |
20120295392 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ARRAY OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS HAVING A TOTALLY SEPARATED INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - A method for producing a thin-film solar cell with a cell level integrated bypass diode includes forming at least three series-connected solar cells, each cell being a laminated structure including semiconducting material of first and second types, a front electrode in contact with the material of the first type, and a back electrode in contact with the material of the second type. The bypass diode is formed by total separation from a selected parent cell. The material of the first type of the diode is connected to the material of the second type of any one chosen solar cell in the array. The material of the second type of the diode is connected with the material of the first type of the one chosen solar cell in the array so that the diode is connected in parallel and in opposition to the one chosen solar cell. | 11-22-2012 |
20120295393 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ARRAY OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS HAVING AN ETCHANT-RESISTANT ELECTRODE AND AN INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE ASSOCIATED WITH A PLURALITY OF CELLS AND A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - An array of series-connected solar cells is formed on a support layer with at least a two cells being adjacent and a third solar cell being either adjacent or separated from the second solar cell. A portion of the photovoltaic junction layer is separated from the first solar cell. The semiconducting material of the first type of the separated portion is electrically connected with the semiconducting material of the second type of the second solar cell through physical contact between the front electrode of the first cell and the back electrode of the second cell. The material of the second type of the separated portion of the junction layer is connected with the semiconducting material of the first type of the third cell to define a bypass diode that is in parallel and in opposition to the second and the third solar cells. | 11-22-2012 |
20120295395 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ARRAY OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS HAVING A TOTALLY SEPARATED INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE ASSOCIATED WITH A PLURALITY OF CELLS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - A method for producing an array a thin-film solar cell with a cell level integrated bypass diode, the includes forming at least three series-connected solar cells; totally separating a bypass diode from a selected parent solar cell; connecting the semiconducting material of the first type of the photovoltaic junction layer of the bypass diode with the semiconducting material of the second type of any one chosen solar cell in the array; and connecting the semiconducting material of the second type of the photovoltaic junction layer of the bypass diode with the semiconducting material of the first type of any other chosen solar cell in the array so that the bypass diode is connected in parallel and in opposition to both the one chosen solar cell and the other chosen solar cell. | 11-22-2012 |
20120298168 | THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL HAVING AN ETCHANT-RESISTANT ELECTRODE AND AN INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE AND A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - A thin-film solar cell having a photovoltaic junction layer including semiconducting material of first and second types, a front electrode formed of a transparent conductive oxide resistant to an etchant in contact with the semiconducting material of the first type, and a back electrode in contact with the semiconducting material of the second type. A bypass diode is supported on the support layer with at least the junction layer and the back electrode of the bypass diode being formed through separation from a selected parent solar cell. The separated portions of the junction layer and the back electrode of the diode are spaced from the selected parent solar cell in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the parent cell. An conductor connects the semiconducting material of the second type of the diode with the semiconducting material of the first type of a chosen solar cell. | 11-29-2012 |
20120318321 | ARRAY OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS HAVING A TOTALLY SEPARATED INTEGRATED BYPASS DIODE ASSOCIATED WITH A PLURALITY OF CELLS AND A PANEL INCORPORATING THE SAME - An array a thin-film solar cell with a cell level integrated bypass diode includes at least three series-connected solar cells; a bypass diode formed by total separation from a selected parent solar cell; a first conductor connecting the semiconducting material of the first type of the bypass diode with the semiconducting material of the second type of any one chosen solar cell in the array; and a second conductor connecting the semiconducting material of the second type of the bypass diode with the semiconducting material of the first type of any other chosen solar cell in the array, so that the bypass diode is connected in parallel and in opposition to both the one chosen solar cell and the other chosen solar cell. | 12-20-2012 |
20130125988 | CZTS/Se PRECURSOR INKS AND METHODS FOR PREPARING CZTS/Se THIN FILMS AND CZTS/Se-BASED PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - The present invention relates to coated binary and ternary chalcogenide nanoparticle compositions that can be used as copper zinc tin chalcogenide precursor inks. In addition, this invention relates to coated substrates comprising binary and ternary chalcogenide nanoparticle compositions and provides processes for manufacturing these coated substrates. This invention also relates to compositions of copper zinc tin chalcogenide thin films and photovoltaic cells comprising such films. In addition, this invention provides processes for manufacturing copper zinc tin chalcogenide thin films, as well as processes for manufacturing photovoltaic cells incorporating such films. | 05-23-2013 |
20130221489 | INKS AND PROCESSES TO MAKE A CHALCOGEN-CONTAINING SEMICONDUCTOR - The present invention relates to a process to make a chalcogen-containing semiconductor comprising copper, zinc and tin and to inks used in the process. The inks comprise at least one copper, zinc or tin source which is elemental particles of the particular metal. | 08-29-2013 |
20130233202 | INKS AND PROCESSES FOR PREPARING COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SULFIDE/SELENIDE COATINGS AND FILMS - This invention relates to inks comprising molecular precursors to copper indium gallium sulfide/selenide (CIGS/Se) and a plurality of particles. The inks are useful for preparing coatings and films of CIGS/Se on substrates. Such films are useful in the preparation of photovoltaic devices. This invention also relates to processes for preparing coated substrates and films and also to processes for making photovoltaic devices. | 09-12-2013 |
20130264526 | MOLECULAR PRECURSORS AND PROCESSES FOR PREPARING COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SULFIDE/SELENIDE COATINGS AND FILMS - This invention relates to molecular precursors and processes for preparing coated substrates and films of copper indium gallium sulfide/selenides (CIGS/Se). Such films are useful in the preparation of photovoltaic devices. This invention also relates to processes for preparing coated substrates and for making photovoltaic devices. | 10-10-2013 |
20130292800 | PROCESSES FOR PREPARING COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SULFIDE/SELENIDE FILMS - This invention relates to processes for preparing films of copper indium gallium sulfide/selenides (CIGS/Se) on substrates via inks comprising CIGS/Se microparticles and a plurality of particles. This invention relates to inks, coated layers, and film compositions. Such films are useful in the preparation of photovoltaic devices. This invention also relates to processes for preparing coated substrates and for making photovoltaic devices. | 11-07-2013 |
20140048137 | Process for preparing coated substrates and photovoltaic devices - This invention provides compositions and the processes for preparing the compositions that are useful for preparing films of CZTS and its selenium analogues on a substrate. Such films are useful in preparing photovoltaic devices. This invention also provides processes for preparing a semiconductor layer comprising CZTS/Se microparticles embedded in an inorganic matrix. This invention also provides processes for making a photovoltaic devices and the photovoltaic devices so produced. | 02-20-2014 |
20140144500 | SEMICONDUCTOR INKS FILMS, COATED SUBSTRATES AND METHODS OF PREPARATION - This invention provides compositions useful for preparing films of CZTS and its selenium analogues on a coated substrate. This invention also provides processes for preparing films and coated substrates comprising CZTS/Se microparticles embedded in an inorganic matrix. This invention also provides processes for preparing photovoltaic cells comprising films of CZTS and its selenium analogues. | 05-29-2014 |