Patent ID: 8685779

Claim:
A method for forming a Group VA-doped solution-processed metal chalcogenide, the method comprising: providing a conductive substrate; forming a first solution including a first material group selected from a first material set consisting of metal salts, metal complexes, and combinations thereof, dissolved in a solvent; adding a Group VA-containing material to the first solution, where the Group VA-containing material is selected from a group consisting of arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof; depositing the first solution on the conductive substrate; forming a Group VA-doped first intermediate film comprising metal precursors from corresponding members of the first material group; thermally annealing in an environment selected from a group consisting of selenium (Se), Se and hydrogen (H 2 ), hydrogen selenide (H 2 Se), sulfur (S), S and H 2 , hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), and combinations thereof; as a result, transforming the metal precursors in the Group VA-doped first intermediate film; and, forming a Group VA-doped metal chalcogenide layer comprising: adding an alkali metal-containing material, selected from a group consisting of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), cesium (Cs), and combinations thereof, to the first solution; wherein forming the Group VA-doped first intermediate film includes forming a combination Group VA and alkali metal-doped first intermediate layer; and, wherein forming the Group VA-doped metal chalcogenide includes forming a combination Group VA and alkali-doped metal chalcogenide, wherein forming the Group VA-doped first intermediate film comprising metal precursors includes forming a first proportion of the Group VA-doped first intermediate film with a material selected from a group consisting of metal oxides and mixed metal oxides.