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:
Nov. 19, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2010
Dallas W. Meyer, Prior Lake, MN (US);
Jason Stephen Corneille, San Jose, CA (US);
Steven Thomas Croft, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Mulugeta Zerfu Wudu, San Jose, CA (US);
William James Mccoll, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Dallas W. Meyer, Prior Lake, MN (US);
Jason Stephen Corneille, San Jose, CA (US);
Steven Thomas Croft, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Mulugeta Zerfu Wudu, San Jose, CA (US);
William James McColl, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Miasole, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
Provided herein are methods of incorporating additives into thin-film solar cell substrates and back contacts. In certain embodiments, sodium is incorporated into a substrate or a back contact of a thin-film photovoltaic stack where it can diffuse into a CIGS or other absorber layer to improve efficiency and/or growth of the layer. The methods involve laser treating the substrate or back contact in the presence of a sodium (or sodium-containing) solid or vapor to thereby incorporate sodium into the surface of the substrate or back contact. In certain embodiments, the surface is simultaneously smoothed.