Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100243056 | LAYER FOR THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS AND A SOLAR CELL MADE THEREFROM - A photovoltaic device is provided comprising an absorber layer, wherein the absorber layer comprises a plurality of grains separated by grain boundaries. At least one layer is disposed over the absorber layer. The absorber layer comprises grain boundaries that are substantially perpendicular to the at least one layer disposed over the absorber layer. The plurality of grains has a median grain diameter of less than 1 micrometer. Further, the grains are either p-type or n-type. The grain boundaries comprise an active dopant. The active dopant concentration in the grain boundaries is higher than the effective dopant concentration in the grains. The grains and grain boundaries may be of the same type or opposite type. Further, when the grain boundaries are n-type the bottom of the grain boundaries may be p-type. A method of making the absorber layer is also disclosed. | 09-30-2010 |
20100259823 | NANOSTRUCTURED ANTI-REFLECTION COATINGS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND DEVICES - An anti-reflection coating is described. The coating is disposed on a surface of a substrate. The anti-reflection coating includes an array of substantially transparent nanostructures having a primary axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The array of substantially transparent nanostructures is characterized by a graded refractive index. In some embodiments, each of the nanostructures has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along the primary axis. Related methods and devices are also described. | 10-14-2010 |
20110100447 | LAYER FOR THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS AND A SOLAR CELL MADE THEREFROM - A photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device comprises an absorber layer comprising a p-type semiconductor, wherein at least one layer is disposed over the absorber layer. The at least one layer is a semiconductor having a higher carrier density than the carrier density of the absorber layer. The at least one layer comprises silicon. The at least one layer comprises a p+-type semiconductor. The absorber layer is substantially free of silicon. A method of forming the photovoltaic device is provided. | 05-05-2011 |
20110104398 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEPOSITING MULTIPLE MATERIALS ON A SUBSTRATE - A system for depositing two or more materials on a substrate is provided. The system comprises one or more susceptors configured to define two or more recesses for accommodating at least a first material and a second material respectively. The first and second materials are different. The system further comprises one or more heaters for heating the first material and the second material for sublimation of the first and second materials for deposition on the substrate. A method for depositing two or more materials on a substrate is also presented. | 05-05-2011 |
20120080066 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A photovoltaic device having a down-converting layer disposed on the device, is presented. The down-converting layer have a graded refractive index, wherein a value of refractive index at a first surface of the down-converting layer varies from a value of refractive index at a second surface of the layer. A photovoltaic module having a plurality of such photovoltaic devices is also presented. | 04-05-2012 |
20120080067 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A photovoltaic device including a composite down-converting layer disposed on the device, is presented. The composite down-converting layer includes down-converting material particles dispersed in a matrix. The size of the down-converting material particles is a function of a difference in respective refractive indices (Δn) of the down-converting material and the matrix such that: (i) for Δn less than about 0.05, the size of down-converting material particles is in a range from about 0.5 micron to about 10 microns, and (ii) for Δn at least about 0.05, the size of down-converting material particles is in a range from about 1 nanometer to about 500. A photovoltaic module having a plurality of such photovoltaic devices is also presented. | 04-05-2012 |
20120080070 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - In one aspect of the present invention, a photovoltaic device having a down-converting layer is presented. The device includes a glass plate having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is exposed to ambient radiation. A transparent conductive layer is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the glass plate. The device further includes a first type semiconductor layer disposed adjacent to the transparent conductive layer and a second type semiconductor layer disposed adjacent to the first type semiconductor layer. The down-converting layer is interposed between the second surface of the glass plate and the transparent conducting layer. The down-converting layer exhibits an effective refractive index that has a value between the respective refractive indices of the glass plate and the transparent conductive layer. A photovoltaic module having a plurality of such photovoltaic devices is also presented. | 04-05-2012 |
20120164785 | METHOD OF MAKING A TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE OXIDE LAYER AND A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method includes disposing a substantially amorphous cadmium tin oxide layer on a support; and thermally processing the substantially amorphous cadmium tin oxide layer in an atmosphere substantially free of cadmium from an external source to form a transparent layer, wherein the transparent layer has an electrical resistivity less than about 2×10 | 06-28-2012 |