Patent ID: 8748216

Claim:
A method for fabricating a conformal metal chalcogenide thin film photovoltaic absorber layer on a surface of a complexly shaped object, the method comprising the steps of: a.) providing a stable colloidal suspension of metal surface-charged nanoparticles in a non-aqueous solvent, said nanoparticles comprising elements either from Groups IB, IIIA and optionally Group VIA or from Groups IB, IIB and/or IVA and optionally Group VIA; b.) providing a counter electrode for electrophoretic deposition of said nanoparticles, said counter electrode having a pre-determined shape determined by a surface topography of a surface of a complexly shaped object and providing a substantially constant-electric field constraint between said counter electrode and said surface of said complexly shaped object, said surface being at least semi-electrically conductive; c.) placing said counter electrode and said surface of said complexly shaped object into said suspension of metal surface-charged nanoparticles and using electrophoretic deposition forming a metal thin film on said surface of said complexly shaped object; and d.) heating said metal thin film in the presence of a chalcogen to form a metal chalcogenide thin film on said surface of said complexly shaped object.