US4328260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for applying antireflective coating on solar cell
Assignee: BP Solar International LLC
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Filing: 1981-01-23
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Granted: 1982-05-04
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Expires: 2001-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A method, and the composition, for the application of an antireflective coating on solar cells and the subsequent application of metal contacts comprising applying a screen to the surface of a solar cell, applying a paste comprising a metal alkoxide over the screen, heat treating the cell and metal alkoxide paste, and nickel plating the resultant cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel L. Whitehouse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:24
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/02; C23C18/06; C09; C09D; C09D5/00; C09D5/32; C23C18/12; C23C18/1204; C23C18/1208; C23C18/1216; C23C18/125; C23C18/1295; F; F24; F24S; F24S70/00; F24S70/30; H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/311; H10F77/315; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of applying an antireflective coating and grid to the surface of a solar energy cell, said surface being adapted to absorb light impinging thereon, comprising (a) placing a screen on said surface of the solar energy cell, said screen having a design in which the area to be coated is open; (b) applying a metal alkoxide paste to said screen; (c) heating said coated cell to a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 550° C. to decompose the alkoxide and form the metal oxide; and (d) plating the clear areas of said cell surface with a nickel compound to form a metallic grid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of applying an antireflective coating and grid to the surface of a solar energy cell, said surface being adapted to absorb light impinging thereon, comprising (a) placing a screen on said surface of the solar energy cell, said screen having a design in which the area to be coated is open; (b) applying a metal alkoxide paste to said screen; (c) heating said coated cell to a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 550° C. to decompose the alkoxide and form the metal oxide; and (d) plating the clear areas of said cell surface with a nickel compound to form a metallic grid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said plate comprises; (a) a thickening or suspension agent; (b) a liquid alcohol selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic alcohol having at least six carbon atoms, terpenes and aromatic alcohols, and (c) a metal alkoxide, said metal being selected from the group consisting of tantalum, titanium, niobium, yttrium, zirconium, tellurium or mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the ratio of thickening agent to alcohol is in the range of about 2/1 to about 1/20 and ratio of paste, that is, thickening agent-alcohol mixture, to the metal alkoxide is in the range of about 10/1 to about 50/1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 in which the alkoxide moiety is selected from the group consisting of methoxide, ethoxide, n-propoxide, iso-propoxide, butoxide and pentyloxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose and ethylcellulose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 in which the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexanol-1 and α-terpineol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the metal alkoxide is a mixture of a metal chloride and an alcohol, the ratio of metal chloride to alcohol being in the range of about 1/1 to about 1/3.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3949463A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-03 | 1985-11-02 | 1986-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-03 | 1989-11-02 | 1990-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-03 | 1993-11-02 | 1994-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |