US4143235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell and method of fabrication
Assignee: University of Delaware
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Filing: 1977-12-30
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Granted: 1979-03-06
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Expires: 1997-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell of improved efficiency comprising a barrier layer and cadmium sulfide-containing bilayer, the bilayer being formed by depositing at a first temperature an initial layer of cadmium sulfide in interfacial contact with the substrate and then depositing a subsequent layer of cadmium sulfide at a second temperature which is at least 20° C. below the first temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack A. Duisman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:26
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F71/00; H10F71/125; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/16; H10F10/169; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/543
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell comprising a cadmium sulfide bilayer, the bilayer being formed by deposition in interfacial contact with the substrate of an initial layer of cadmium sulfide formed at a first temperature and deposition of a second layer of cadmium sulfide formed at a second temperature which is at least 20° C. below the first temperature at which the initial cadmium sulfide layer is deposited, said second cadmium sulfide layer being in interfacial contact with a barrier layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell comprising a cadmium sulfide bilayer, the bilayer being formed by deposition in interfacial contact with the substrate of an initial layer of cadmium sulfide formed at a first temperature and deposition of a second layer of cadmium sulfide formed at a second temperature which is at least 20° C. below the first temperature at which the initial cadmium sulfide layer is deposited, said second cadmium sulfide layer being in interfacial contact with a barrier layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein the second cadmium sulfide layer is deposited at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 60° C. below the temperature at which the initial cadmium sulfide layer is deposited.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cell according to claim 2 wherein the second cadmium sulfide layer is deposited at a temperature about 50° C. below the temperature at which the initial cadmium sulfide layer is deposited.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein the cell comprises a barrier lamination of copper sulfide in intimate physical contact with the second cadmium sulfide lamination of the bilayer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein the cell is activated by a heat treatment at a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 300° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein the cadmium bilayer contains a dopant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 6 wherein the initial cadmium sulfide layer contains from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of an aluminum dopant.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of fabricating an improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell which comprises forming a cadmium bilayer by deposition of a cadmium sulfide lamination on another cadmium sulfide lamination, wherein the temperature at which the initial cadmium sulfide lamination is deposited is at least about 20° C. above the temperature at which the second cadmium sulfide lamination is deposited, said second cadmium sulfide layer being in interfacial contact with a barrier layer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of fabricating an improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell which comprises forming a cadmium bilayer by deposition of a cadmium sulfide lamination on another cadmium sulfide lamination, wherein the temperature at which the initial cadmium sulfide lamination is deposited is at least about 20° C. above the temperature at which the second cadmium sulfide lamination is deposited, said second cadmium sulfide layer being in interfacial contact with a barrier layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the second cadmium sulfide containing layer is deposited at a temperature from about 20° C. to about 100° C. below the temperature at which the initial cadmium sulfide containing layer is deposited.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the second cadmium sulfide containing layer is deposited at a temperature of from about 200° C. to about 450° C. and the initial cadmium sulfide layer is deposited at a temperature of from about 350° C. to about 500° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
An improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell comprising a cadmium sulfide bilayer, the bilayer consisting essentially of an initial layer of cadmium sulfide microcrystals having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.02 microns to about 0.1 microns and a second layer consisting essentially of microcrystals of cadmium sulfide having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.1 microns to about 0.5 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
An improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell comprising a cadmium sulfide bilayer, the bilayer consisting essentially of an initial layer of cadmium sulfide microcrystals having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.02 microns to about 0.1 microns and a second layer consisting essentially of microcrystals of cadmium sulfide having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.1 microns to about 0.5 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
An improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell comprising a cadmium sulfide bilayer, the bilayer comprising an initial layer of cadmium sulfide microcrystals having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.02 microns to about 0.1 microns and a second cadmium sulfide layer comprising cadmium sulfide crystals having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.1 microns to about 0.5 microns, wherein said cadmium sulfide bilayer comprises a dopant and said second cadmium sulfide layer being in interfacial contact with a barrier layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
An improved cadmium sulfide photovoltaic cell comprising a cadmium sulfide bilayer, the bilayer comprising an initial layer of cadmium sulfide microcrystals having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.02 microns to about 0.1 microns and a second cadmium sulfide layer comprising cadmium sulfide crystals having an average crystal diameter of from about 0.1 microns to about 0.5 microns, wherein said cadmium sulfide bilayer comprises a dopant and said second cadmium sulfide layer being in interfacial contact with a barrier layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 12 wherein the initial cadmium sulfide layer comprises from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of an aluminum dopant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3880633A
Cited
US4086101A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-05 | 1982-09-04 | 1983-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-05 | 1986-09-04 | 1987-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-05 | 1990-09-04 | 1991-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |