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Method and device for cadmium-free solar cells

  • US 8,628,997 B2
  • Filed: 09/19/2011
  • Issued: 01/14/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device free from cadmium comprising:

  • providing a substrate having a thin film photovoltaic absorber with a surface region including a copper species, an indium species, a gallium species, a selenium species, and a sulfur species;

    subjecting the surface region to a material containing at least a zinc species which is substantially free of cadmium;

    heating at least the surface region to cause formation of zinc doped material at the surface region, wherein the heating comprises using a lamp heater to cause the surface region and adjacent regions to increase from room temperature to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit while keeping the majority of the absorber material substantially at room temperature;

    forming zinc oxide over the zinc doped material; and

    forming a transparent conductive material overlying the zinc oxide material.

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