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Composition control for roll-to-roll processed photovoltaic films

a photovoltaic film and roll-to-roll technology, applied in the field of roll-to-roll processing photovoltaic films, can solve the problems of changing deposition rate, higher electricity generation cost of silicon-based solar cells, and higher cost of electricity generated by more traditional methods, and achieves better yield, lower cost, and high throughput

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-10-04
SOLOPOWER
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  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]Deposition or growth of layers forming a thin film solar cell in a roll-to-roll or in-line process is attractive for higher throughput, lower cost and better yield of such approaches. There is still ...

Problems solved by technology

However, the cost of electricity generated using silicon-based solar cells is higher than the cost of electricity generated by the more traditional methods.
However, during processing, it is possible that deposition rates change.

Method used

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  • Composition control for roll-to-roll processed photovoltaic films
  • Composition control for roll-to-roll processed photovoltaic films
  • Composition control for roll-to-roll processed photovoltaic films

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Embodiment Construction

[0025]The present invention provides methods and apparatus to control the composition of precursor films or layers, which may be used in the formation of CIGS(S) type absorber layers, through an in-line or roll-to-roll manufacturing approach. The techniques may be used for the deposition of Group IB and Group IIIA materials and optionally Group VIA materials on a base to form precursor layers which are then converted into Group IBIIIAVIA compound layers by annealing at elevated temperatures, preferably in presence of additional Group VIA material(s). Deposition of Group IB, Group IIIA and Group VIA materials may be performed by various techniques such as evaporation, sputtering, spraying. doctor blading, printing, electrodeposition etc., and the processing system may be an in-line-system or a roll-to-roll system wherein layers or sub-layers of Group IB-containing, Group IIIA-containing and Group VIA-containing materials are deposited onto the base consecutively, one after another, a...

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Abstract

The present invention provides methods of electroplating a film or films onto a top surface of a continuously moving roll-to-roll sheet. In one aspect, the invention includes continuously electroplating a film onto a conductive surface using an electroplating unit as the roll-to-roll sheet moves therethrough, detecting a thickness of the film electroplated onto a portion of the roll-to-roll sheet and generating a thickness signal corresponding thereto. In this aspect, when continuously electroplating, the thickness of the film is adjusted toward a predetermined thickness value using the thickness signal for a subsequent portion of the roll-to-roll sheet that follows the portion of the roll-to-roll sheet.

Description

[0001]This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 744,252 filed Apr. 4, 2006 entitled “Composition Control For Photovoltaic Thin Film Manufacturing”, which application is expressly incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for preparing thin films of Group IBIIIAVIA compound semiconductor films for radiation detector and photovoltaic applications.BACKGROUND[0003]Solar cells are photovoltaic devices that convert sunlight directly into electrical power. The most common solar cell material is silicon, which is in the form of single or polycrystalline wafers. However, the cost of electricity generated using silicon-based solar cells is higher than the cost of electricity generated by the more traditional methods. Therefore, since early 1970's there has been an effort to reduce cost of solar cells for terrestrial use. One way of reducing the cost of solar cells is to ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C25D5/16
CPCC25D5/10C25D7/0621C25D7/0692Y02E10/541G01B21/08H01L31/03928C25D21/12
Inventor BASOL, BULENT M.
Owner SOLOPOWER
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