US4366336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Age and heat stabilized photovoltaic cells
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
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Filing: 1980-10-16
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Granted: 1982-12-28
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Expires: 2000-10-16
Abstract
Abstract Improved age and heat stabilized photovoltaic solar cells comprising a semiconducting layer, a barrier layer containing the metal M1 and a stabilizing metal electrode containing two or more metals, one of which is M1, such that the tendency for M1 to diffuse between the electrode and the barrier layer is approximately zero.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee F. Donaghey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:55
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/16; H10F10/169; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability comprising a barrier layer containing the metal M 1 , one facial surface of said barrier layer being in contact with a layer of semiconductor material and forming a photovoltaic heretojunction therewith, and at least a portion of the other facial surface of said barrier layer in intimate contact with a stabilizing metal electrode; wherein said stabilizing metal electrode is an alloy comprised of at least two metallic elements, one of which is M 1 , such that the tendency of M 1 to diffuse between said stabilizing metal electrode and said barrier layer is approximately zero.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability comprising a barrier layer containing the metal M 1 , one facial surface of said barrier layer being in contact with a layer of semiconductor material and forming a photovoltaic heretojunction therewith, and at least a portion of the other facial surface of said barrier layer in intimate contact with a stabilizing metal electrode; wherein said stabilizing metal electrode is an alloy comprised of at least two metallic elements, one of which is M 1 , such that the tendency of M 1 to diffuse between said stabilizing metal electrode and said barrier layer is approximately zero.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A photovoltaic cell according to claim 1 wherein said stabilizing metal electrode is comprised of a two-phase mixture of two or more metallic compositions which are solid solutions or intermetallic compounds wherein one of said compositions contains M 1 and the remaining compositions contain metals not in the barrier layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 1 wherein M 1 is selected from metals of Groups IB, IIB, IIIA and IIIB, IVA and IVB, VB and VIB of the Periodic Table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 1 wherein M 1 is selected from copper, zinc and boron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing electrode comprises, in addition to M 1 , metals selected from the group consisting of strontium, barium, tin, lead, antimony, bismuth, manganese, and the Group IB, IIB, IIIA and IIB, IVB, VB and VIB metals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing electrode is comprised of alloys chosen from the group comprising copper-zinc, copper-aluminum, copper-tin, copper-gold, zinc-cadmium, zinc-silver, zinc-tin, copper-nickel-aluminum, copper-zinc-tin and zinc-cadmium-gold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability according to claim 1 wherein M 1 is copper, said semiconductor layer is cadmium sulfide, said barrier layer is copper sulfide, and said stabilizing metal electrode is comprised of a copper alloy or mixtures of copper alloys, such that the copper has a standard chemical activity in the range of 1×10 -7 to 5×10 -1 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A photovoltaic cell according to claim 7, wherein the stabilizing electrode is comprised of metallic elements selected from the group consisting of copper-zinc, copper-aluminum, copper-tin, copper-gold, copper-nickel-aluminum and copper-zinc-tin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability according to claim 7 wherein said copper sulfide is Cu x S and x has a value greater than 1.99 and less than 2.0.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability according to claim 7 wherein said stabilizing metal electrode contains a metal element selected from Groups IIB, IIIA and IIIB, and IVA, excluding Pb, of the Periodic Table.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability according to claim 7 wherein said stabilizing metal electrode is comprised of copper and tin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability according to claim 7 wherein said stabilizing metal electrode is comprised of copper and zinc.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The photovoltaic device according to claims 1, 3, 5, 6, or 12 wherein the barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of Cu x S, CdTe-Cu x Te, Cu x InSe 2 , Cu x InTe 2 , Cu x GaTe 2 , Cd x SiAs 2 , Zn x SiAs 2 , and B x As.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability comprising a barrier layer containing the metal M 1 , one facial surface of said barrier layer being in contact with a layer of semiconductor material and forming a photovoltaic heterojunction therewith, and the other facial surface of said barrier layer in intimate contact with a stabilizing metal electrode; wherein said stabilizing metal electrode comprises an alloy of at least two metallic elements, one of which is M 1 , such that the net diffusion of M 1 between said stabilizing electrode and said barrier layer is approximately zero.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
A photovoltaic cell of improved stability comprising a barrier layer containing the metal M 1 , one facial surface of said barrier layer being in contact with a layer of semiconductor material and forming a photovoltaic heterojunction therewith, and the other facial surface of said barrier layer in intimate contact with a stabilizing metal electrode; wherein said stabilizing metal electrode comprises an alloy of at least two metallic elements, one of which is M 1 , such that the net diffusion of M 1 between said stabilizing electrode and said barrier layer is approximately zero.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of fabricating a stabilizing electrode on a photovoltaic cell which comprises a barrier layer containing a metal M 1 contacting a facial surface of a semiconductor layer and forming a photovoltaic heterojunction therewith and at least a portion of the opposite facial surface of said barrier layer contacting an electrode, said method comprising: fabricating said electrode as a stabilizing electrode comprising an alloy of at least two metallic elements, wherein one of the elements M 1 is in the barrier layer and in the stabilizing electrode layer such that the tendency of M 1 to diffuse between said stabilizing electrode and said barrier layer is approximately 0.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of fabricating a stabilizing electrode on a photovoltaic cell which comprises a barrier layer containing a metal M 1 contacting a facial surface of a semiconductor layer and forming a photovoltaic heterojunction therewith and at least a portion of the opposite facial surface of said barrier layer contacting an electrode, said method comprising: fabricating said electrode as a stabilizing electrode comprising an alloy of at least two metallic elements, wherein one of the elements M 1 is in the barrier layer and in the stabilizing electrode layer such that the tendency of M 1 to diffuse between said stabilizing electrode and said barrier layer is approximately 0.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 15 wherein said stabilizing electrode is formed by evaporation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the metallic elements of said stabilizing electrode are evaporated together.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein the stabilizing electrode comprises copper and a metal element selected from the periodic table Groups IIB; IIIA; IIIB; and IVA, excluding Pb.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the metallic elements of said stabilizing electrode are evaporated separately and then the photovoltaic cell is heat-treated to alloy said metals into said stabilizing electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein said stabilizing electrode is comprised of a copper alloy or mixtures of copper alloys wherein the standard chemical activity of the copper is adjusted in the range of from 1×10 -7 to 5×10 -1 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | 1986-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-27 | 1990-06-28 | 1990-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-27 | 1994-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |