The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 12, 2007
Matthew R. Robinson, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Chris Eberspacher, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Jeroen K. J. Van Duren, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Matthew R. Robinson, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Chris Eberspacher, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Jeroen K. J. Van Duren, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Nanosolar, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for forming thin-films from solid group IIIA-based particles. In one embodiment, a method is provided for bandgap grading in a thin-film device using such particles. The method may be comprised of providing a bandgap grading material comprising of an alloy having: a) a IIIA material and b) a group IA-based material, wherein the alloy has a higher melting temperature than a melting temperature of the IIIA material in elemental form. A precursor material may be deposited on a substrate to form a precursor layer. The precursor material comprising group IB, IIIA, and/or VIA based particles. The bandgap grading material of the alloy may be deposited after depositing the precursor material. The alloy in the grading material may react after the precursor layer has begun to sinter and thus maintains a higher concentration of IIIA material in a portion of the compound film that forms above a portion that sinters first.