Patent ID: 7541067
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: C23C,H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of depositing a buffer layer material from a solution to an exposed surface of a solar cell absorber layer of a workpiece for manufacturing of solar cells, comprising: placing the workpiece in a deposition chamber of a deposition system, the deposition chamber including a heated-wall and a cooled-wall disposed substantially opposite the heated-wall, and wherein the workpiece is placed in proximity to the heated-wall so that heat from the heated-wall heats the workpiece and the solar cell absorber layer; flowing at a predetermined rate a flow of a supply solution into and through the deposition chamber and over the exposed surface of the solar cell absorber layer such that the supply solution flowed into the deposition chamber also flows out of the deposition chamber, wherein the supply solution is maintained at a first temperature before entering the deposition chamber and wherein the supply solution includes all the chemical components of the buffer layer material; and depositing the buffer layer material on the exposed surface of the solar cell absorber layer in the deposition chamber by heating the absorber layer to a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature using the heated-wall, thereby causing the transfer of heat from the solar cell absorber layer to at least a portion of the supply solution that is in contact with the exposed surface and wherein the rest of the supply solution is maintained substantially at the first temperature by the cooled-wall during transferring heat from the solar cell absorber layer to at least the portion of the solution that is in contact with the exposed surface, thereby minimizing buffer layer material particle formation within the supply solution, and wherein deposition of the buffer layer material transforms the supply solution to a used solution by depleting a measurable amount that is less than all of the chemical components in the supply solution.