Liquid precursor inks for deposition of In—Se, Ga—Se and In—Ga—Se

• US 9,105,797 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliance For Sustainable Energy LLC, HelioVolt Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alliance For Sustainable Energy LLC
• Inventors: Curtis, Calvin J., Hersh, Peter A., Miedaner, Alexander, Habas, Susan, Ginley, David S., van Hest, Maikel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyon, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, JAISON P
• Application Number:
  US13/602,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20130323878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02167 for solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0322 comprising only AIBIIICVI chalcopyrite compounds, e.g. Cu In Se2, Cu Ga Se2, Cu In Ga Se2
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03923 including AIBIIICVI compound materials, e.g. CIS, CIGS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/18 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/541 CuInSe2 material PV cells

Abstract

An ink includes a solution of selenium in ethylene diamine solvent and a solution of at least one metal salt selected from the group consisting of an indium salt or a gallium salt in at least one solvent including an organic amide. The organic amide can include dimethylformamide. The organic amide can include N-methylpyrrolidone.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a gallium selenide ink, the method comprising:

mixing a first hydrazine-free and lithium-free solution comprising elemental selenium and ethylene diamine with a second solution comprising a gallium salt and a solvent comprising at least one of an organic amide or N-methylpyrrolidone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent consists of at least one of a formamide, an acetamide, a benzamide, or N-methylpyrrolidone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the solvent consists of at least one of dimethylformamide or N-methylpyrrolidone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gallium salt includes a nitrate salt.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gallium salt includes a chloride salt.

6. A method of forming a solid precursor on a substrate, the method comprising:

applying to a surface of the substrate an ink comprising a first hydrazine-free and lithium-free solution of elemental selenium in ethylene diamine mixed with a second solution comprising a gallium salt and a solvent comprising at least one of an organic amide or N-methylpyrrolidone; and

subjecting the ink and the substrate to a heating regime for a time sufficient to solidify the ink on the substrate in the form of the solid precursor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the solvent consists of at least one of a formamide, an acetamide, a benzamide, or N-methylpyrrolidone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the solvent consists of at least one of dimethylformamide or N-methylpyrrolidone.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the gallium salt includes a nitrate salt.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the gallium salt includes a chloride salt.

11. An ink comprising a solution of elemental selenium in ethylene diamine, a gallium salt, and a solvent comprising at least one of an organic amide or N-methylpyrrolidone.

12. The ink of claim 11, wherein the solvent consists of at least one of a formamide, an acetamide, a benzamide, or N-methylpyrrolidone.

13. The ink of claim 12, wherein the solvent consists of at least one of dimethylformamide or N-methylpyrrolidone.

14. The ink of claim 11, wherein the gallium salt includes a nitrate salt.

15. The ink of claim 11, wherein the gallium salt includes a chloride salt.