Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

California Institute of Technology

Marty W Degroot

Michael E Mills

Paul R Elowe

Narayan Ramesh

David J Perkon

Harry A Atwater

Nathan S Lewis

Marc Guy Langlois

Todd R Bryden

Rebekah K Feist

Gregory M Kimball

Joseph George

Dustin M Charamut

Matt A Stempki

Stephen J Marinella

Zachary J Marinella

Jeffrey P Wilkinson

Minoru Sakuma

A method of providing a plurality of classified photovoltaic articles, including the steps of providing a first photovoltaic element that includes a plurality of photovoltaic articles on a continuous flexible substrate, forming a electrically insulating material on the first photovoltaic element at one or more predetermined locations, separating adjacent photovoltaic articles from each other, determining an efficiency of each photovoltaic article by measuring its current-voltage characteristics, and classifying each photovoltaic article according to its efficiency.

Thin film solar cell processing and testing method and equipment

A method of manufacturing electrically interconnected solar cell assemblies, including the steps of: positioning at least a first interconnect element () in an alignment feature of a top carrier and facing a top surface of a first photovoltaic cell (); adhering the first interconnect element to a location on the top surface of the first cell, wherein a length of the first interconnect element extends beyond a trailing edge () of the first cell; and adhering a portion of the length of the first interconnect element that extends beyond a trailing edge of the first cell to the bottom surface of a second cell (). In one aspect, a system is provided for assembling solar cell strings, including cell transfer equipment, a bottom pallet including grooves, multiple top pallets including grooves, an adhesive dispensing system, a ribbon supply mechanism, and a system for moving ribbons and top pallets.

Automated assembly method for the production of interconnected thin film solar cell modules

The present invention provides strategies for improving the adhesion between a barrier region, a transparent conductive region, and/or an electrically conductive grid through the use of an adhesion promoting region. The adhesion promoting region is optically transmissive and comprises a metal layer, a metal nitride layer, a metal carbide layer, or a combination thereof and preferably comprises at least one of Cr, Ti, Ta, and Zr or a combination thereof. These strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of heterojunction photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. Adhesion is improved to such a degree that grid materials and dielectric barrier materials can cooperate to provide a hermetic seal over devices to protect against damage induced by environmental conditions, including damage due to water intrusion. The adhesion promoting region also serves as a barrier to the migration of Na, Li, and the lanthanoid series of elements.

Moisture resistant photovoltaic devices with improved adhesion of barrier film

The present invention provides strategies for improving the adhesion among two or more of transparent conducting oxides, electrically conductive grid materials, and dielectric barrier layers. As a consequence, these strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of heterojunction photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. When the barrier is formed and then the grid is applied to vias in the barrier, the structure has improved moisture barrier resistance as compared to where the barrier is formed over or around the grid. Adhesion is improved to such a degree that grid materials and dielectric barrier materials can cooperate to provide a hermetic seal over devices to protect against damage induced by environmental conditions, including damage due to water intrusion. This allows the collection grids to be at least partially exposed above the dielectric barrier, making it easy to make electronic connection to the devices.

Moisture resistant photovoltaic devices with exposed conductive grid

The present invention provides strategies for providing photovoltaic devices that are more resistant to moisture and/or oxygen degradation and the accompanying migration of key elements such as Na, Li, and the lanthanoid series of elements from the absorber layer and that have enhanced service life and improved performance. These strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of chalcogenide-based photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. These strategies incorporate a barrier region between the photovoltaic absorber region and the front side collection grid. The barrier region keeps moisture and/or oxygen from the absorber layer and contains key elements such as Na, Li, and Ln in the absorber layer. As a result, the absorber layer retains its performance capabilities for an extended period of time.

Photovoltaic device with transparent, conductive barrier layer

The present invention relates to devices, particularly photovoltaic devices, incorporating Group IIB/VA semiconductors such phosphides, arsenides, and/or antimonides of one or more of Zn and/or Cd. In particular, the present invention relates to methodologies, resultant products, and precursors thereof in which electronic performance of the semiconductor material is improved by causing the Group IIB/VA semiconductor material to react with at least one metal-containing species (hereinafter co-reactive species) that is sufficiently co-reactive with at least one Group VA species incorporated into the Group IIB/VA semiconductor as a lattice substituent (recognizing that the same and/or another Group VA species also optionally may be incorporated into the Group IIB/VA semiconductor in other ways, e.g., as a dopant or the like).

Group IIB/VA semiconductors suitable for use in photovoltaic devices

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Marty W Degroot