Patent ID: 7256140
Filing Date: 2007-08-14
Classification: C25D,H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
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 a top electrode disposed atop said intermediate body, said method comprising the steps of: providing a solution of a passivation agent in contact with at least those portions of said electrode proximate said defects; and disposing a counter-electrode in electrical communication with said solution of said passivation agent; 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; applying electrical energy to said electrodes and optionally light energy to said photovoltaic device thereby activating said passivation agent proximate said defects so as to facilitate modification of the electrode material, whereby said defects regions are substantially electrically isolated from the remainder of said electrode material; and controlling the voltage and duration of the application of said electrical energy and, if applied, the intensity and duration of said light energy so as to ensure high selectivity of modification of the electrode material adjacent said defect, while leaving the electrode material adjacent non-defect areas in its unmodified form.