公开(公告)号：US11011661B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-18

申请号：US16741577

申请日：2020-01-13

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Priscilla D. Antunez ,  Douglas M. Bishop ,  Gloria W. Fraczak ,  Oki Gunawan ,  Richard A. Haight

IPC: H01L31/072 ,  H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H01L31/18

Abstract: Improved high work function back contacts for solar cells are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a solar cell includes: forming a completed solar cell having a substrate coated with an electrically conductive material, an absorber disposed on the electrically conductive material, a buffer layer disposed on the absorber, a transparent front contact disposed on the buffer layer, and a metal grid disposed on the transparent front contact; removing the substrate and the electrically conductive material using exfoliation, exposing a backside surface of the solar cell; depositing a high work function material onto the back side surface of the solar cell; and depositing a back contact onto the high work function material. A solar cell formed by the present techniques is also provided. Yield of the exfoliated device can be improved by removing bubbles from adhesive used for exfoliation and/or forming contact pads to access the metal grid.

公开(公告)号：US10938340B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-02

申请号：US16514032

申请日：2019-07-17

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Priscilla D. Antunez ,  Richard A. Haight ,  James B. Hannon ,  Teodor K. Todorov

IPC: H02S40/38 ,  H01L31/072 ,  H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H02S40/36 ,  H01M10/46 ,  H01L31/048 ,  H01M10/052 ,  H01M10/0562 ,  H01L31/18

Abstract: An integrated kesterite (e.g., CZT(S,Se)) photovoltaic device and battery is provided. In one aspect, a method of forming an integrated photovoltaic device and battery includes: forming a photovoltaic device having a substrate, an electrically conductive layer, an absorber layer, a buffer layer, a transparent front contact, and a metal grid; removing the substrate and the electrically conductive layer from the photovoltaic device to expose a backside surface of the absorber layer; forming at least one back contact on the backside surface of the absorber layer; and integrating the photovoltaic device with a battery, wherein the integrating includes connecting i) a positive contact of the battery with the back contact on the backside surface of the absorber layer and ii) a negative contact of the battery with the metal grid on the transparent front contact. An integrated photovoltaic device and battery is also provided.

公开(公告)号：US10790398B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-29

申请号：US16009098

申请日：2018-06-14

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Priscilla D. Antunez ,  Bruce A. Ek ,  Richard A. Haight ,  Ravin Mankad ,  Saurabh Singh ,  Teodor K. Todorov

IPC: H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H01L31/0216 ,  H01L31/072

Abstract: Kesterite photovoltaic devices having a back surface field layer are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a photovoltaic device includes: forming a complete photovoltaic device having a substrate, an electrically conductive layer on the substrate, an absorber layer on the electrically conductive layer, a buffer layer on the absorber layer, and a transparent front contact on the buffer layer; removing the substrate and the electrically conductive layer from the complete photovoltaic device to expose a backside surface of the absorber layer; forming a passivating layer on the backside surface of the absorber layer; and forming a high work function back contact on the passivating layer. A photovoltaic device having a passivating layer is also provided.

公开(公告)号：US20200152815A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-14

申请号：US16741577

申请日：2020-01-13

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Priscilla D. Antunez ,  Douglas M. Bishop ,  Gloria W. Fraczak ,  Oki Gunawan ,  Richard A. Haight

IPC: H01L31/072 ,  H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0224

Abstract: Improved high work function back contacts for solar cells are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a solar cell includes: forming a completed solar cell having a substrate coated with an electrically conductive material, an absorber disposed on the electrically conductive material, a buffer layer disposed on the absorber, a transparent front contact disposed on the buffer layer, and a metal grid disposed on the transparent front contact; removing the substrate and the electrically conductive material using exfoliation, exposing a backside surface of the solar cell; depositing a high work function material onto the back side surface of the solar cell; and depositing a back contact onto the high work function material. A solar cell formed by the present techniques is also provided. Yield of the exfoliated device can be improved by removing bubbles from adhesive used for exfoliation and/or forming contact pads to access the metal grid.

公开(公告)号：US10541346B2

公开(公告)日：2020-01-21

申请号：US15425717

申请日：2017-02-06

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Priscilla D. Antunez ,  Douglas M. Bishop ,  Gloria W. Fraczak ,  Oki Gunawan ,  Richard A. Haight

IPC: H01L31/072 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/032

Abstract: Improved high work function back contacts for solar cells are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a solar cell includes: forming a completed solar cell having a substrate coated with an electrically conductive material, an absorber disposed on the electrically conductive material, a buffer layer disposed on the absorber, a transparent front contact disposed on the buffer layer, and a metal grid disposed on the transparent front contact; removing the substrate and the electrically conductive material using exfoliation, exposing a backside surface of the solar cell; depositing a high work function material onto the back side surface of the solar cell; and depositing a back contact onto the high work function material. A solar cell formed by the present techniques is also provided. Yield of the exfoliated device can be improved by removing bubbles from adhesive used for exfoliation and/or forming contact pads to access the metal grid.

公开(公告)号：US10396707B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-27

申请号：US15281870

申请日：2016-09-30

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Priscilla D. Antunez ,  Richard A. Haight ,  James B. Hannon ,  Teodor K. Todorov

IPC: H02S40/38 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M10/46 ,  H01L31/072 ,  H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H02S40/36 ,  H01M10/052 ,  H01M10/0562 ,  H01L31/048

Abstract: An integrated kesterite (e.g., CZT(S,Se)) photovoltaic device and battery is provided. In one aspect, a method of forming an integrated photovoltaic device and battery includes: forming a photovoltaic device having a substrate, an electrically conductive layer, an absorber layer, a buffer layer, a transparent front contact, and a metal grid; removing the substrate and the electrically conductive layer from the photovoltaic device to expose a backside surface of the absorber layer; forming at least one back contact on the backside surface of the absorber layer; and integrating the photovoltaic device with a battery, wherein the integrating includes connecting i) a positive contact of the battery with the back contact on the backside surface of the absorber layer and ii) a negative contact of the battery with the metal grid on the transparent front contact. An integrated photovoltaic device and battery is also provided.

公开(公告)号：US10396221B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-27

申请号：US15951288

申请日：2018-04-12

Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Inventor： Talia S. Gershon ,  Richard A. Haight ,  Saurabh Singh ,  Teodor K. Todorov

IPC: H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/18

Abstract: A method of preparing a Ag2ZnSn(S,Se)4 compound, including dissolving selenourea (SeC(NH2)2) in an aprotic solvent, and dissolving a silver salt, a zinc salt, and a tin salt in the aprotic solvent with the selenourea to form a metal solution; and coating the metal solution onto a substrate to form an Ag2ZnSn(S,Se)4 compound layer on the substrate.

公开(公告)号：US10269994B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-23

申请号：US15845455

申请日：2017-12-18

Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Inventor： Richard A. Haight ,  James B. Hannon ,  Satoshi Oida

IPC: H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H01L31/0392 ,  H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/0445 ,  H01L31/0216 ,  H01L31/072

Abstract: A method for forming a back contact on an absorber layer in a photovoltaic device includes forming a two dimensional material on a first substrate. An absorber layer including Cu—Zn—Sn—S(Se)(CZTSSe) is grown over the first substrate on the two dimensional material. A buffer layer is grown on the absorber layer on a side opposite the two dimensional material. The absorber layer is exfoliated from the two dimensional material to remove the first substrate from a backside of the absorber layer opposite the buffer layer. A back contact is deposited on the absorber layer.

公开(公告)号：US10230014B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-12

申请号：US15342618

申请日：2016-11-03

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Liang-Yi Chang ,  Talia S. Gershon ,  Richard A. Haight ,  Yun Seog Lee

IPC: B05D5/12 ,  H01L31/065 ,  H01L31/032 ,  H01L31/0749 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L31/072 ,  H01L31/0216 ,  H01L31/0392

Abstract: A hybrid vapor phase-solution phase CZT(S,Se) growth technique is provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a kesterite absorber material on a substrate includes the steps of: depositing a layer of a first kesterite material on the substrate using a vapor phase deposition process, wherein the first kesterite material includes Cu, Zn, Sn, and at least one of S and Se; annealing the first kesterite material to crystallize the first kesterite material; and depositing a layer of a second kesterite material on a side of the first kesterite material opposite the substrate using a solution phase deposition process, wherein the second kesterite material includes Cu, Zn, Sn, and at least one of S and Se, wherein the first kesterite material and the second kesterite material form a multi-layer stack of the absorber material on the substrate. A photovoltaic device and method of formation thereof are also provided.

公开(公告)号：US10217888B2

公开(公告)日：2019-02-26

申请号：US15287087

申请日：2016-10-06

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Priscilla D. Antunez ,  Talia S. Gershon ,  Richard A. Haight ,  Teodor K. Todorov

IPC: H01B1/06 ,  H01L31/0749 ,  C09D11/52 ,  H01L31/02 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/032

Abstract: Silver-containing absorbers for photovoltaic devices and techniques for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming an ink includes: mixing a silver halide and a solvent to form a first solution; mixing a metal, sulfur, and the solvent to form a second solution; combining the first solution and the second solution to form a precursor solution; and adding constituent components for an absorber material to the precursor solution to form the ink. Methods of forming an absorber film, a photovoltaic device, and the resulting photovoltaic device are also provided.