Patent ID: 6137048
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
Method of fabricating a thin-film semiconductor heterojunction photovoltaic device, comprising the steps of:a) depositing a layer of cadmium stannate on a transparent substrate by radio frequency sputtering at ambient temperature to act as a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer forming a front contact;b) depositing a zinc stannate layer on said TCO layer by radio frequency sputtering at ambient temperature to form a buffer layer;c) depositing a first semiconductor window layer upon said buffer layer;d) depositing a second semiconductor layer upon said window layer to form a heterojunction; ande) heat treating the device formed by steps (a)-(d) to convert said cadmium stannate layer to a substantially single-phase material with a spinel crystal structure.