PHOTOVOLTAIC GLASS LAMINATED ARTICLES AND LAYERED ARTICLES

• US 20120037229A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Dawson-Elli, David Francis, DeMartino, Steven Edward, Hluck, Laura L.
• Application Number:
  US12/531,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20120037229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/260
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10091 thermally hardened
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/101 having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion [CTE]
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10119 having a composition deviating from the basic composition of soda-lime glass, e.g. borosilicate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/006 Transparent parts other than made from inorganic glass, e.g. polycarbonate glazings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/14 characterised by the properties of the layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0392 including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates ; characterised by specific substrate materials or substrate features or by the presence of intermediate layers, e.g. barrier layers, on the substrate textured substrates H01L31/02366
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03923 including AIBIIICVI compound materials, e.g. CIS, CIGS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/541 CuInSe2 material PV cells

Abstract

Laminated articles and layered articles, for example, low alkali glass and/or low sodium laminated articles and layered articles useful for, for example, photovoltaic devices are described.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a glass layer having a strain point of 500°

C. or more;

a photovoltaic functional material disposed on the glass layer;

a substrate comprising a glass, a polymer, or a combination thereof, and having a thickness greater than that of the glass layer; and

a laminate layer disposed between the substrate and either the glass layer or the photovoltaic functional material.

2. The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass layer has a thickness of 2.0 mm or less.

3. The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass layer has a strain point of 540°

C. or more.

4. The article according to claim 1, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass layer is in the range of from 30×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C. to 90×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C.

5. The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass layer has a sodium oxide content of 10 percent by weight or less.

6. The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass layer has a sodium oxide content of 1 percent by weight or less.

7. The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass layer has a sodium oxide content greater than 0 percent by weight.

8. The article according to claim 1, wherein glass layer has an alkali oxide content of 25 percent by weight or less.

9. The article according to claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic functional material comprises copper indium gallium diselenide.

10. The article according to claim 9, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass layer is in the range of from 60×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C. to 90×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C.

11. The article according to claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic functional material comprises cadmium telluride.

13. The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass layer is transparent.

14. The article according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from float glass, fusion formable glass, soda lime glass, plastic, and a polycarbonate.

15. The article according to claim 1, wherein the laminate layer comprises a material selected from polyvinyl butyral, a UV curable resin, a thermoplastic, a thermoplastic ionoplast, polycarbonate, polyurethane, a UV curable polymer, silicone, and combinations thereof.

16. The article according to claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic functional material comprises silicon.

17. The article according to claim 16, wherein the silicon is crystalline, nanocrystalline, amorphous, or combinations thereof.

18. The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass layer is fusion formable.

19. The article according to claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic functional material comprises multiple layers.

20. The article according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is transparent.

12. The article according to claim 12, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass layer is in the range of from 30×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C. to 60×

10<sup>−

7</sup>/°

C.

21. An article comprising:

a glass layer having a strain point of 500°

C. or more;

a photovoltaic functional material disposed on the glass layer; and

a protective layer disposed on a surface of the photovoltaic functional material not in contact with the glass layer.