Patent ID: 8183066
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic module comprising: transferring a substrate into a first chamber of a multi-chamber system, the substrate being optically transparent and having a lateral dimension of at least 1.5 meters; forming an electrode layer overlying the substrate in the first chamber; transferring the substrate to a second chamber of the multi-chamber system; forming a copper (Cu)-bearing material layer overlying the electrode layer in the second chamber; transferring the substrate to a third chamber of the multi-chamber system; forming an indium (In) layer overlying the copper-bearing material layer in the third chamber thereby forming a Cu—In composite film; transferring the substrate comprising the Cu—In composite film to a fourth chamber of the multi-chamber system; subjecting the Cu—In composite film to a thermal treatment process in the fourth chamber in an environment including sulfur-bearing species; transforming the Cu—In composite film to a copper-indium-disulfide material; and forming a photovoltaic absorber layer for a thin film photovoltaic module using the copper-indium-disulfide material.