Conversion process for passivating short circuit current paths in electronic devices having a metallic electrode

Claim 1

A method of passivating short circuit defects in a thin film large area photovoltaic module comprising a substrate electrode, an intermediate body including a plurality of continuous layers disposed atop said substrate and selected from the group consisting of dielectrics, semiconductors, and combinations thereof, and an electrode disposed atop said intermediate body, said electrode comprising a layer of electrically conductive metallic material, said method comprising the steps of: providing a solution of an oxidizing conversion reagent, including therein an acid, selected from the group consisting of H 2 SO 4 , H 3 PO 4 , H 3 BO 3 , H 2 CrO 4 and combinations thereof, in contact with at least those portions of said metallic electrode proximate said defects, said oxidizing conversion reagent capable of converting the metallic electrode material to a material of higher electrical resistivity; and disposing a counter-electrode in electrical communication with said solution of said conversion reagent; providing a power supply in electrical communication with both said counter-electrode and said substrate electrode of said photovoltaic module for applying a potential between said substrate electrode and said counter-electrode; energizing said power supply to apply a potential difference between said substrate electrode and said counter-electrode for activating said oxidizing conversion reagent proximate said defects so as to facilitate conversion of the metallic electrode material to said higher resistivity form, whereby said defects regions are substantially electrically isolated from the remainder of said metallic electrode material.

Claim 2

A method of passivating short circuit defects in a thin film large area photovoltaic module comprising a substrate electrode, an intermediate body including a plurality of continuous layers disposed atop said substrate and selected from the group consisting of dielectrics, semiconductors, and combinations thereof, and an electrode disposed atop said intermediate body, said electrode comprising a layer of electrically conductive metallic material, said method comprising the steps of: providing a solution of an oxidizing conversion reagent, including therein an acid, selected from the group consisting of H 2 SO 4 , H 3 PO 4 , H 3 BO 3 , H 2 CrO 4 and combinations thereof, in contact with at least those portions of said metallic electrode proximate said defects, said oxidizing conversion reagent capable of converting the metallic electrode material to a material of higher electrical resistivity; and disposing a counter-electrode in electrical communication with said solution of said conversion reagent; providing a power supply in electrical communication with both said counter-electrode and said substrate electrode of said photovoltaic module for applying a potential between said substrate electrode and said counter-electrode; energizing said power supply to apply a potential difference between said substrate electrode and said counter-electrode for activating said oxidizing conversion reagent proximate said defects so as to facilitate conversion of the metallic electrode material to said higher resistivity form, whereby said defects regions are substantially electrically isolated from the remainder of said metallic electrode material.