Thin film photovoltaic cells having blocking layers

Claim 2

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, one of said semiconductors having discontinuities through which the other of said semiconductors is exposed, said blocking layer being located to prevent said other semiconductor from making undesired electrical contact through said discontinuities of said one semiconductor, and said blocking layer being formed only in the exposed areas of said other semiconductor.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said blocking layer is formed by reacting said exposed areas of said other semiconductor with a liquid or gas ambient.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said other semiconductor is made of cadmium sulfide and said blocking layer is cadmium sulfate.

Claim 5

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being an insulating material having discontinuities therein.

Claim 6

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being an insulating material having discontinuities therein.

Claim 7

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, disposing said blocking layer adjacent said collector-converter and remote from said absorber-generator, and forming said blocking layer with discontinuities therein.

Claim 8

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, disposing said blocking layer adjacent said collector-converter and remote from said absorber-generator, and forming said blocking layer with discontinuities therein.

Claim 9

In the method of claim 5 wherein said blocking layer is formed of a layer of zinc sulfide.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5 wherein said blocking layer is a semiconductor.

Claim 11

The method of claim 5 wherein said blocking layer is located adjacent to said opaque electrical contact.

Claim 12

The method of claim 8 wherein said device is a front wall cell and said transparent electrical contact is in the form of a conductive glass having a transparent encapsulant layer thereover.

Claim 13

The method of claim 8 wherein said device is a front wall cell and said transparent electrical contact is in the form of a metallic grid having a transparent encapsulation layer thereover.

Claim 14

The method of claim 5 wherein said blocking layer is located adjacent to said transparent electrical contact.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 wherein said device is a back wall cell.

Claim 16

The method of claim 5 wherein said junction between said semiconductors is non-planar in the form of hills and valleys.

Claim 17

The method of claim 5 wherein said blocking layer is a material which is chemically compatible with at least one of said semiconductors.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein said blocking layer is chemically compatible by being a material having a chemical component in common with at least one of said semiconductors.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 wherein said absorber-generator is made from copper sulfide, said collector-converter being made from cadmium sulfide, and said blocking layer being made from zinc sulfide.

Claim 20

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, said blocking layer being a material which is chemically compatible with at least one of said semiconductors by being a material having a chemical component in common with at least one of said semiconductors, said absorber-generator being made from copper sulfide, said collector-converter being made from cadmium sulfide, said blocking layer being made from zinc sulfide, and a further blocking layer being provided which is made from cadmium sulfate having discontinuities.

Claim 21

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, said blocking layer being a material which is chemically compatible with at least one of said semiconductors by being a material having a chemical component in common with at least one of said semiconductors, said absorber-generator being made from copper sulfide, said collector-converter being made from cadmium sulfide, said blocking layer being made from zinc sulfide, and a further blocking layer being provided which is made from cadmium sulfate having discontinuities.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 wherein said copper sulfide absorber-generator has discontinuities therein which cause portions of said cadmium sulfide collector-converter to be exposed, and said cadmium sulfate blocking layer being formed only at said exposed portions of said cadmium sulfide collector-converter.

Claim 23

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being formed from copper oxide and being located between said absorber-generator and said transparent electrical contact.

Claim 24

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming an electrical blocking layer in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being formed from copper oxide and being located between said absorber-generator and said transparent electrical contact.

Claim 25

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, one of said semiconductors having discontinuities through which the other of said semiconductors is exposed, said blocking layer being located to prevent said other semiconductor from making undesired electrical contact through said discontinuities of said one semiconductor, and said blocking layer being located only in the exposed areas of said other semiconductor.

Claim 26

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, one of said semiconductors having discontinuities through which the other of said semiconductors is exposed, said blocking layer being located to prevent said other semiconductor from making undesired electrical contact through said discontinuities of said one semiconductor, and said blocking layer being located only in the exposed areas of said other semiconductor.

Claim 27

The device of claim 20 wherein said other semiconductor is made of cadmium sulfide or cadmium zinc sulfide and said blocking layer is cadmium sulfate.

Claim 28

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being an insulating material having discontinuities therein.

Claim 29

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being an insulating material having discontinuities therein.

Claim 30

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, said blocking layer being disposed adjacent said collector-converter and being remote from said absorber-generator, and said blocking layer having discontinuities therein.

Claim 31

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, said blocking layer being disposed adjacent said collector-converter and being remote from said absorber-generator, and said blocking layer having discontinuities therein.

Claim 32

The device of claim 23 wherein said blocking layer is a layer of zinc sulfide.

Claim 33

The device of claim 23 wherein said blocking layer is a semiconductor material.

Claim 34

The device of claim 23 wherein said blocking layer is located adjacent to said opaque electrical contact.

Claim 35

The device of claim 26 wherein said device is a front wall cell and said transparent electrical contact is in the form of a conductive glass having a transparent encapsulation layer thereover.

Claim 36

The device of claim 26 wherein said device is a front wall cell and said transparent electrical contact is in the form of a metallic grid having a transparent encapsulation layer thereover.

Claim 37

The device of claim 23 wherein said blocking layer is located adjacent to said transparent electrical contact.

Claim 38

The device of claim 29 wherein said device is a back wall cell.

Claim 39

The device of claim 23 wherein said junction between said semiconductors is non-planar in the form of hills and valleys.

Claim 40

The device of claim 23 wherein said blocking layer is a material which is chemically compatible with at least one of said semiconductors.

Claim 41

The device of claim 32 wherein said blocking layer is chemically compatible by being a material having a chemical component in common with at least one of said semiconductors.

Claim 42

The device of claim 33 wherein said absorber-generator is made from copper sulfide, said collector-converter being made from cadmium sulfide or cadmium zinc sulfide, and said blocking layer being made from zinc sulfide.

Claim 43

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, said blocking layer being a material which is chemically compatible with at least one of said semiconductors by being a material having a chemical component in common with at least one of said semiconductors, said absorber-generator being made from copper sulfide, said collector-converter being made from cadmium sulfide or cadmium zinc sulfide, said blocking layer being made from zinc sulfide, and including a further blocking layer of cadmium sulfate having discontinuities.

Claim 44

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, said blocking layer being a material which is chemically compatible with at least one of said semiconductors by being a material having a chemical component in common with at least one of said semiconductors, said absorber-generator being made from copper sulfide, said collector-converter being made from cadmium sulfide or cadmium zinc sulfide, said blocking layer being made from zinc sulfide, and including a further blocking layer of cadmium sulfate having discontinuities.

Claim 45

The device of claim 35 wherein said copper sulfide absorber-generator has discontinuities therein which cause portions of said cadmium sulfide collector-converter to be exposed, and said cadmium sulfate blocking layer being formed only at said exposed portions of said cadmium sulfide collector-converter.

Claim 46

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being formed from copper oxide and being located between said absorber-generator and said transparent electrical contact.

Claim 47

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a blocking layer disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between components of said device separated from each other by said blocking layer, and said blocking layer being formed from copper oxide and being located between said absorber-generator and said transparent electrical contact.

Claim 48

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming a pair of spaced electrical blocking layers in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between different pairs of components of said device separated from each other by at least one of said blocking layers.

Claim 49

In a method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being forming a pair of spaced electrical blocking layers in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent undesired electrical contact between different pairs of components of said device separated from each other by at least one of said blocking layers.

Claim 50

In the method of claim 38 wherein one of said blocking layers is located adjacent to said opaque electrical contact.

Claim 51

In the method of claim 39 wherein the other of said blocking layers is located adjacent to said transparent electrical contact.

Claim 52

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a pair of spaced blocking layers disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent electrical contact between different pairs of components of said device separated from each other by at least one of said blocking layers.

Claim 53

In a thin film photovoltaic device having as its components a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with an intermediate pair of semiconductors being located between said electrical contacts and said intermediate pair of semiconductors forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween and functioning as a collector-converter and as an absorber-generator, respectively, the improvement being a pair of spaced blocking layers disposed in the electrical path between said transparent and said opaque electrical contacts to prevent electrical contact between different pairs of components of said device separated from each other by at least one of said blocking layers.

Claim 54

The device of claim 41 wherein one of said blocking layers is located adjacent to said opaque electrical contact.

Claim 55

The device of claim 42 wherein the other of said blocking layers is located adjacent to said transparent electrical contact.