Patents by Inventor Syed Arif Zafar

Syed Arif Zafar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6258620
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CuInxGa1-xSe2 or just CIGS) photovoltaic devices using elemental selenium and without requiring complex codeposition or requiring the use of toxic H2Se gas. A precursor taking one of several forms is deposited onto a substrate having a back contact. A first precursor includes copper, gallium, and indium, the latter of which is deposited in the presence of a selenium flux, all deposited in that order. The second precursor includes indium deposited in the presence of a selenium flux, copper, and gallium, deposited in that order. Next, the precursor is selenized using one of two techniques: an indium-gallium removal technique and a copper-top technique. In both techniques, the precursor is heated to and held at a first selenization temperature, most preferably 450° C., and then heated to and held at a second selenization temperature, most preferably 550° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Don Louis Morel, Syed Arif Zafar