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:
Sep. 20, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2014
Applicant:
First Solar, Inc., Perrysburg, OH (US);
Inventors:
Scott Christensen, Perrysburg, OH (US);
Pawel Mrozek, Waterville, OH (US);
Gang Xiong, Santa Clara, CA (US);
San Yu, Perrysburg, OH (US);
Assignee:
First Solar, Inc., Perrysburg, OH (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/00 (2006.01); H01L 31/0224 (2006.01); H01L 31/0392 (2006.01); H01L 31/073 (2012.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 31/022425 (2013.01); H01L 31/03925 (2013.01); H01L 31/073 (2013.01); Y02E 10/543 (2013.01);
Abstract
A method to improve CdTe-based photovoltaic device efficiency is disclosed, the method including steps for removing surface contaminants from a semiconductor absorber layer prior to the deposition or formation of a back contact layer on the semiconductor absorber layer, the surface contaminants removed using at least one of a dry etching process and a wet etching process.