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:
Jun. 16, 2015
Filed:
Jan. 12, 2011
Marty W. Degroot, Midland, MI (US);
Paul R. Elowe, Midland, MI (US);
Marty W. DeGroot, Midland, MI (US);
Paul R. Elowe, Midland, MI (US);
DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Midland, MI (US);
Abstract
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.