Abstract: An image sensor may include a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer that is subwavelength, hydrophobic, and/or antireflective. The PDMS layer may be fabricated to include a surface having a plurality of nanostructures (e.g., an array of convex protuberances and/or an array of concave recesses). The nanostructures may be formed through the use of a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template that uses a plurality of nanopores to form the array of convex protuberances and/or the array of concave recesses. The nanostructures may each have a respective width that is less than the wavelength of incident light that is to be collected by the image sensor to increase light absorption by increasing the angle of incidence for which the image sensor is capable of collecting incident light. This may increase the quantum efficiency of the image sensor and may increase the sensitivity of the image sensor.

Abstract: A graphite substrate is processed to have surface unevenness in a range of 1 ?m to 8 ?m. Thereby, a semiconductor film to be laminated on the graphite substrate has a stable film quality, and thus adhesion of the graphite substrate and the semiconductor layer can be enhanced. When an electron blocking layer is interposed between the graphite substrate and the semiconductor layer, the electron blocking layer is thin and thus the surface unevenness of the graphite substrate is transferred onto the electron blocking layer. Consequently, the electron blocking layer also has surface unevenness approximately in such range. Thus, almost the same effect as a configuration in which the semiconductor layer is directly connected to the graphite substrate can be produced.

Abstract: To eliminate electric discharge when an element formation layer including a semiconductor element is peeled from a substrate used for manufacturing the semiconductor element, a substrate over which an element formation layer and a peeling layer are formed and a film are made to go through a gap between pressurization rollers. The film is attached to the element formation layer between the pressurization rollers, bent along a curved surface of the pressurization roller on a side of the pressurization rollers, and collected. Peeling is generated between the element formation layer and the peeling layer and the element formation layer is transferred to the film. Liquid is sequentially supplied by a nozzle to a gap between the element formation layer and the peeling layer, which is generated by peeling, so that electric charge generated on surfaces of the element formation layer and the peeling layer is diffused by the liquid.

Abstract: A stretchable photovoltaic apparatus according to the present invention includes: a stretchable substrate including islands protruded from a base such that the islands are separated by a trench, and a notch formed in an edge of each of the islands; a photovoltaic cell mounted on the stretchable substrate; and an interconnector of which at least a portion is positioned inside the notch, the interconnector electrically connecting the neighboring photovoltaic cells in one pair. According to the present invention, a semiconductor device may be configured in the form of a stretchable array. Therefore, the present invention is expected to be applied to various industrial fields such as a solar cell field, a display field, a semiconductor device field, a medical field, a clothing field, a measurement field, and a filming field.

Abstract: To eliminate electric discharge when an element formation layer including a semiconductor element is peeled from a substrate used for manufacturing the semiconductor element, a substrate over which an element formation layer and a peeling layer are formed and a film are made to go through a gap between pressurization rollers. The film is attached to the element formation layer between the pressurization rollers, bent along a curved surface of the pressurization roller on a side of the pressurization rollers, and collected. Peeling is generated between the element formation layer and the peeling layer and the element formation layer is transferred to the film. Liquid is sequentially supplied by a nozzle to a gap between the element formation layer and the peeling layer, which is generated by peeling, so that electric charge generated on surfaces of the element formation layer and the peeling layer is diffused by the liquid.

Abstract: A chemical bath deposition (CBD) apparatus includes a first cap, a second cap, and a solution input/output device. The second cap is arranged corresponding to the first cap so as to form a deposition space. The solution input/output device is located in the first cap so as to feed a solution into/out of the deposition space. The position of the solution input/output device is fixed, or the solution input/output device is movable in the deposition space.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes: a substrate; a photoelectric conversion unit that is formed on the substrate to generate and accumulate signal charges according to light quantity of incident light; a vertical transmission gate electrode that is formed to be embedded in a groove portion formed in a depth direction from one side face of the substrate according to a depth of the photoelectric conversion unit; and an overflow path that is formed on a bottom portion of the transmission gate to overflow the signal charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit.

Abstract: An electrical circuit includes a solar cell that has a photovoltaically active front side and a back side. An electronic or micromechanical component is arranged on the back side of the solar cell and is electrically connected to the photovoltaically active front side of the solar cell by a contact-making structure. The electrical circuit also includes a transparent first protective layer that is arranged on the photovoltaically active front side of the solar cell. The contact-making structure has a first contact-making section that is arranged on a front side of the first protective layer facing away from the solar cell.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing membrane layers of organic solar cells by roll to roll coating utilizes a roll to roll process for manufacturing an electron transferring layer and an active layer of the organic solar cells is disclosed. The roll to roll process adopted by the method cooperates with a particular solvent and accompanies a parameter control such as temperature and processing time during the sintering and baking steps. The method utilizes a slot-die coating technique in the interim, whereby a membrane layer of the solar cells can be manufactured with a large area for reducing the cost, and the formed membrane layers can have a good efficiency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for depositing thin patterned films of materials in which individual elements of the patterned film are deposited by two or more nozzles having different geometries. The different nozzle geometries may include one or more of different throttle diameters, different exhaust diameters, different cross-sectional shapes, different bore angles, different wall angles, different exhaust distances from the substrate, and different leading edges relative to the direction of movement of the nozzles or the substrate. Methods may include steps of ejecting a carrier gas and a material from a plurality of nozzles and depositing the material on a substrate in a plurality of laterally spaced elements.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing large-area organic solar cells utilizes a hot solvent vapor annealing manufacturing process while manufacturing the organic solar cells via a large-area proceeding method, such as spraying. Namely, a heated solvent vapor is utilized to modify an active layer after the active layer of the organic solar cells is formed, which ensures a flatness and an uniformity thereof and increases a crystallinity of the active layer and an element charge transport rate so that a power conversion efficiency of the large area organic solar cells is increased, a proceeding time is quite short, and the performance thereof is quite obvious. Therefore, the method not only reduces the cost by a large area production but obtains organic solar cells with higher conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an organic solar cell is provided. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a laminate section can be easily removed from a substrate by causing a cleaning unit to move up and down above the substrate or to move forward and backward in a reciprocating manner in the width direction of the substrate. Furthermore, when a contact member is detachably connected to the cleaning unit, the contact member that has been contaminated with a laminate material can be separated from the cleaning unit and easily washed. Also, the laminate section can be removed by spraying a solvent through a discharging unit to dissolve the laminate section, and suctioning the laminate section through a suctioning unit. In this case, the laminate section can be easily removed from the substrate by dissolving the laminate section with the solvent.

Abstract: A method for fabricating light emitting diode (LED) chips comprising providing a plurality of LEDs, typically on a wafer, and coating the LEDs with a conversion material so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the conversion material and is converted. The light emission from the LED chips comprises light from the conversion material, typically in combination with LED light. The emission characteristics of at least some of the LED chips is measured and at least some of the conversion material over the LEDs is removed to alter the emission characteristics of the LED chips. The invention is particularly applicable to fabricating LED chips on a wafer where the LED chips have light emission characteristics that are within a range of target emission characteristics. This target range can fall within an emission region on a CIE curve to reduce the need for binning of the LEDs from the wafer.

Abstract: Methods and semiconductor materials produced by such methods that are suitable for use in photovoltaic cells, solar cells fabricated with such methods, and solar panels composed thereof. Such methods include a wet-chemical synthesis method capable of producing a Group I-III-VI2 semiconductor material by forming a solution containing an organic solvent, at least one Group I precursor of at least one Group I element, and at least one Group III precursor of at least one Group III element. The Group I precursor is present in the solution in an amount of less than 120% of a stoichiometric ratio of the Group I element in the Group I-III-VI2 semiconductor material, and the Group III precursor is present in the solution in an amount of greater than 55% of a stoichiometric ratio of the Group III element in the Group I-III-VI2 semiconductor material.

Abstract: Methods and structures for extracting at least one electric parametric value from a back contact solar cell having dual level metallization are provided.

Abstract: An oxide film is formed, having a specific film thickness on a substrate by alternately repeating: forming a specific element-containing layer on the substrate by supplying a source gas containing a specific element, to the substrate housed in a processing chamber and heated to a first temperature; and changing the specific element-containing layer formed on the substrate, to an oxide layer by supplying a reactive species containing oxygen to the substrate heated to the first temperature in the processing chamber under a pressure of less than atmospheric pressure, the reactive species being generated by causing a reaction between an oxygen-containing gas and a hydrogen-containing gas in a pre-reaction chamber under a pressure of less than atmospheric pressure and heated to a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and associated methods of forming the systems and/or apparatus may include imaging devices that may comprise multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements for use in a variety of applications. These multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be arranged to form a three-dimensional imaging device. Non-coplanar arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be coupled together. These imaging devices may be used as medical imaging devices. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Substrates for solar cells are prepared by etching a plurality of metallurgical grade wafers; depositing aluminum layer on backside of each wafer; depositing a layer of hydrogenated silicon nitride on front surface of each wafer; annealing the wafers at elevated temperature; removing the hydrogenated silicon nitride without disturbing the aluminum layer. A solar cell is then fabricated on the front surface of the wafer while the aluminum remain to serve as the back contact of the cell.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes: a substrate; a photoelectric conversion unit that is formed on the substrate to generate and accumulate signal charges according to light quantity of incident light; a vertical transmission gate electrode that is formed to be embedded in a groove portion formed in a depth direction from one side face of the substrate according to a depth of the photoelectric conversion unit; and an overflow path that is formed on a bottom portion of the transmission gate to overflow the signal charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit.

Abstract: A structure and method for air cavity packaging, the structure comprises a carrier having plural die pads and leads, plural dies, plural wires, plural walls, and a lid. The dies are mounted on the die pads. The wires electrically connect the dies to the leads. The plural walls are disposed on the carrier and form plural cavities in a way that each cavity contains at least one die pad and plural leads, and each wall is provided with at least one air vent for exhausting air to the outside. The lid is attached on the plural walls via an adhesive agent to seal the plural air cavities, so that the plural connected air cavity packages are formed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing solar cell strings by connecting at least two solar cells by a least one conductor ribbon of a first length, wherein the solar cells are respectively spaced from one another at a string cell spacing(s), until a desired number of solar cells for producing a first solar cell string is connected together, connecting a further solar cell with a last solar cell of the first solar string by at least another conductor ribbon which is longer than the at least one conductor ribbon, wherein the second solar cell is spaced from the last solar cell at a greater spacing than the string cell spacing(s) and wherein the second solar cell forms the first solar cell for a second solar string, and separating the at least another conductor ribbon for decoupling the first solar cell string.

Abstract: Without sacrificial layer etching, a microstructure and a micromachine are manufactured. A separation layer 102 is formed over a substrate 101, and a layer 103 to be a movable electrode is formed over the separation layer 102. At an interface of the separation layer 102, the layer 103 to be a movable electrode is separated from the substrate. A layer 106 to be a fixed electrode is formed over another substrate 105. The layer 103 to be a movable electrode is fixed to the substrate 105 with the spacer layer 103 which is partially provided interposed therebetween, so that the layer 103 to be a movable electrode and a layer 106 to be a fixed electrode face each other.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a microelectronic unit can include providing a semiconductor element having front and rear surfaces, a plurality of conductive pads each having a top surface exposed at the front surface and a bottom surface remote from the top surface, and a first opening extending from the rear surface towards the front surface. The method can also include forming at least one second opening extending from the first opening towards the bottom surface of a respective one of the pads. The method can also include forming a conductive via, a conductive interconnect, and a contact, the conductive via in registration with and in contact with the conductive pad and extending within the second opening, the contact exposed at an exterior of the microelectronic unit, the conductive interconnect electrically connecting the conductive via with the contact and extending away from the via at least partly within the first opening.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which individual elements of a thin patterned film are deposited by two or more nozzles having different geometries. The different nozzle geometries may include one or more of different throttle diameters, different exhaust diameters, different cross-sectional shapes, different bore angles, different wall angles, different exhaust distances from the substrate, and different leading edges relative to the direction of movement of the nozzles or the substrate. Methods may include steps of ejecting a carrier gas and a material from a plurality of nozzles and depositing the material on the substrate in a plurality of laterally spaced elements, each of the elements deposited by a separate nozzle group. At least one of the nozzles in a group of nozzles depositing an element may be configured to deposit the material on the substrate in a width that is smaller than the width of the element.

Abstract: An interconnected arrangement of photovoltaic cells is achieved using laminating current collector electrodes. The electrodes comprise a pattern of conductive material extending over a first surface of sheetlike substrate material. The first surface comprises material having adhesive affinity for a selected conductive surface. Application of the electrode to the selected conductive surface brings the first surface of the sheetlike substrate into adhesive contact with the conductive surface and simultaneously brings the conductive surface into firm contact with the conductive material extending over first surface of the sheetlike substrate. Use of the laminating current collector electrodes allows facile and continuous production of expansive area interconnected photovoltaic arrays.

Abstract: A thin film solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are discussed. The method of manufacturing the thin film solar cell includes forming a masking jig in a first region of a substrate, forming a first electrode in a second region of the substrate, forming a photoelectric conversion unit on the first electrode formed in the second region of the substrate to produce electricity using light incident on the photoelectric conversion unit, and forming a second electrode on the photoelectric conversion unit formed in the second region of the substrate.

Abstract: A method to fabricate thin-film photovoltaic devices (100) comprising a photovoltaic Cu(In,Ga)Se2 or equivalent ABC absorber layer (130), such as an ABC2 layer, deposited onto a back-contact layer (120) characterized in that said method comprises at least five deposition steps, wherein the pair of third and fourth steps are sequentially repeatable, in the presence of at least one C element over one or more steps. In the first step at least one B element is deposited, followed in the second by deposition of A and B elements at a deposition rate ratio Ar/Br, in the third at a ratio Ar/Br lower than the previous, in the fourth at a ratio Ar/Br higher than the previous, and in the fifth depositing only B elements to achieve a final ratio A/B of total deposited elements.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor light-emitting device including (A) a light-emitting portion by laminating in sequence a first compound semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second compound semiconductor layer; (B) a first electrode electrically connected to the first compound semiconductor layer; (C) a transparent conductive material layer on the second compound semiconductor layer; (D) an insulating layer on a transparent conductive material layer; and (E) a second reflective electrode that on the transparent conductive material layer and on the insulating layer in a continuous manner, wherein, that the areas of the active layer, the transparent conductive material layer, the insulating layer, and the second electrode S1, S2, S3, and S4, respectively are related as S1?S2<S3 and S2<S4.

Abstract: A steel foil for a solar cell substrate includes 7% to 40% by mass of Cr and has a tensile strength of 930 MPa or more in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the chalcogenide layer may be contained substantially to the front surface of the web, controlling the boundaries of the reaction and avoiding undesired deposition of chalcogenide upon the back side of the web.

Abstract: A contact via hole is formed through at least one dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor material is deposited at the bottom of the contact via hole and atop the at least one dielectric layer by ion cluster deposition. An angled oxygen cluster deposition is performed to convert portions of the semiconductor material on the top surface of the at least one dielectric layer into a semiconductor oxide, while oxygen is not implanted into the deposited semiconductor material at the bottom of the contact via hole. A metal semiconductor alloy is formed at the bottom of the contact hole by deposition of a metal and an anneal. The semiconductor oxide at the top of the at least one dielectric layer can be removed during a preclean before metal deposition, a postclean after metal semiconductor alloy formation, and/or during planarization for forming contact via structures.

Abstract: An interconnected arrangement of photovoltaic cells is achieved using laminating current collector electrodes. The electrodes comprise a pattern of conductive material extending over a first surface of sheetlike substrate material. The first surface comprises material having adhesive affinity for a selected conductive surface. Application of the electrode to the selected conductive surface brings the first surface of the sheetlike substrate into adhesive contact with the conductive surface and simultaneously brings the conductive surface into firm contact with the conductive material extending over first surface of the sheetlike substrate. Use of the laminating current collector electrodes allows facile and continuous production of expansive area interconnected photovoltaic arrays.

Abstract: A chemical bath deposition method based on a new CBD reactor is presented to prepare different thin films on continuous flexible substrates in roll-to-roll processes. In particular, they are useful to deposit CdS or ZnS buffer layers in manufacture of thin film solar cells. This method deposits thin films onto vertically travelling continuous flexible workpieces delivered by a roll-to-roll system. The thin films are deposited with continuously spraying the reaction solutions from their freshly mixed styles to gradually aged forms until the designed thickness is obtained. The substrates and the solutions are heated to a reaction temperature. During the deposition processes, the front surfaces of the flexible substrates are totally covered with the sprayed solutions but the substrate backsides are remained dry. The reaction ambience inside the reactor can be isolated from the outside atmosphere. The apparatus is designed to generate a minimum amount of waste solutions for chemical treatments.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of incorporating additives into thin-film solar cell substrates and back contacts. In certain embodiments, sodium is incorporated into a substrate or a back contact of a thin-film photovoltaic stack where it can diffuse into a CIGS or other absorber layer to improve efficiency and/or growth of the layer. The methods involve laser treating the substrate or back contact in the presence of a sodium (or sodium-containing) solid or vapor to thereby incorporate sodium into the surface of the substrate or back contact. In certain embodiments, the surface is simultaneously smoothed.

Abstract: A process can be used for producing a thin layer solar cell module with a plurality of segments that are electrically connected in series and arranged on a common substrate. The process has steps for application of layers onto the substrate to form at least one electrode and one photoactive layer sequence and has steps for structuring the applied and/or to be applied layers to form the plurality of segments. At least one electrode and one photoactive layer sequence are applied before structuring steps are carried out.

Abstract: A micromechanical systems (MEMs) pressure sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a deep well located within a first surface and a cavity located within a second, opposing surface. The semiconductor substrate has a first doping type. The deep well has a second doping type, with a gradient doping profile, thereby forming a PN junction within the substrate. The cavity forms a diaphragm, which is a substrate section that is thinner than the surrounding substrate sections, that comprises the deep well. One or more pizeoresistor elements are located within the deep well. The piezoresistors are sensitive to deformations, such as bending, in the diaphragm caused by changes in the pressure of the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a thin film solar cell. A separation process (‘P4’ process) of insulating a thin film solar cell from the outside is integrally performed with a transparent electrode patterning process (‘P1’ process) and a metallic electrode patterning process (‘P3’ process). This may reduce the fabrication costs and enhance spatial efficiency as the ‘P4’ process and equipment for the ‘P4’ process are not required.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of polishing, cleaning and texturing back contacts of thin-film solar cells. According to various embodiments, the methods involve irradiating sites on the back contact with laser beams to remove contaminants and/or smooth the surface of the back contact. The back contact, e.g., a molybdenum, copper, or niobium thin-film, is smoothed prior to deposition of the absorber and other thin-films of the photovoltaic stack. In certain embodiments, laser polishing of the back contact is used to enhance the diffusion barrier characteristics of the back contact layer, with all or a surface layer of the back contact becoming essentially amorphous. In certain embodiments, the adhesion of the absorber layer is enhanced by the textured back contact and by the presence of the amorphous metal at the deposition surface.

Abstract: A deposition method and a system are provided to deposit a CdS buffer layer on a surface of a solar cell absorber layer of a flexible workpiece from a process solution including all chemical components of the CdS buffer layer material. CdS is deposited from the deposition solution while the flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by a series of shaping rollers to retain the process solution on the solar cell absorber layer and while the flexible workpiece is heated by contacting to a heated liquid that the shaping rollers are fully or partially immersed. The flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by pulling a back surface of the flexible workpiece into surface cavity of the shaping rollers using magnetic force.

Abstract: Protuberances, having vertical and lateral dimensions less than the wavelength range of lights detectable by a photodiode, are formed at an optical interface between two layers having different refractive indices. The protuberances may be formed by employing self-assembling block copolymers that form an array of sublithographic features of a first polymeric block component within a matrix of a second polymeric block component. The pattern of the polymeric block component is transferred into a first optical layer to form an array of nanoscale protuberances. Alternately, conventional lithography may be employed to form protuberances having dimensions less than the wavelength of light. A second optical layer is formed directly on the protuberances of the first optical layer. The interface between the first and second optical layers has a graded refractive index, and provides high transmission of light with little reflection.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a polymer window and at least one active semiconductor layer that is conditioned using a cadmium chloride treatment process. The photovoltaic cell is heated, during the cadmium chloride treatment process by a rapid thermal activation process to maintain polymer transparency. A method of producing a photovoltaic cell using the rapid thermal activation process and an apparatus to conduct rapid thermal activation processing are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cathode for use in a dye-sensitised solar cell which comprises a redox couple, wherein the cathode comprises: (a) metallic nickel; and (b) intrinsically conducting polymer that, during operation of the cell, reduces an oxidised species of the redox couple.

Abstract: An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H2Se gas during the construction of a photovoltaic cell and allows more uniform melting during film annealing, more uniform intermixing of nanoparticles, and allows higher quality absorber films to be formed.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a light receiving unit formed in a semiconductor base and configured to perform photoelectric conversion; an insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor base; a film constituting a cladding of a waveguide together with the insulating layer and being formed in an outer part of an interior of a hole by coating, the hole being formed in the insulating layer above the light receiving unit; a core of the waveguide, the core being composed of a material having a higher refractive index than a material for the insulating layer and a material for the film formed by coating, the core being formed in an inner part of the interior of the hole; and an inner lens integrated with the waveguide, the inner lens having a lens surface formed at the bottom of the hole at the interface between the film formed by coating and the core.

Abstract: Methods of making a photovoltaic device with an organic liquid precursor having electron donor, electron acceptor, and liquid carrier are provided. The liquid precursor is applied to an electrode. A gas permeable layer/stamp contacts and applies pressure to the organic liquid precursor removing liquid carrier to form a solid active material with uniform interpenetrating network domains of electron donor/acceptor materials. A two-step process is also contemplated. A liquid precursor with either electron donor or acceptor is applied to an electrode, contacted under pressure with a first stamp having a nanoscale pattern, thus forming a solid with a patterned surface. Then, a second liquid precursor with the other of the electron donor or acceptor is applied to the patterned surface, contacted with a second stamp under pressure to form the active material. A transparent conducting electrode with material nanograting can be formed. The methods also include continuous processing, like roll-to-roll manufacturing.

Abstract: Medical imaging devices may comprise an array of ultrasonic transducer elements. Each transducer element may comprise a substrate having a doped surface creating a highly conducting surface layer, a layer of thermal oxide on the substrate, a layer of silicon nitride on the layer of thermal oxide, a layer of silicon dioxide on the layer of silicon nitride, and a layer of conducting thin film on the layer of silicon dioxide. The layers of silicon dioxide and thermal oxide may sandwich the layer of silicon nitride, and the layer of conducting thin film may be separated from the layer of silicon nitride by the layer of silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for the production of a tile containing a photovoltaic cell including the steps of: producing a ceramic base body having one or more through holes and a water absorption equal to or less than 0.5 wt %; depositing on a surface of that ceramic base body an electro-conductive layer made of Ag or Ag—Al; a plurality of active layers; and a layer of electro-conductive material with grid-like structure, wherein the plurality of active layers includes in succession an n-type layer, a photo-active layer and a p-type layer.

Abstract: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 2 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.

Abstract: A sputtering target includes at least one metal selected from copper, indium and gallium and a sodium containing compound.

Abstract: The invention teaches novel structure and methods for producing electrical current collectors and electrical interconnection structure. Such articles find particular use in facile production of modular arrays of photovoltaic cells. The current collector and interconnecting structures may be initially produced separately from the photovoltaic cells thereby allowing the use of unique materials and manufacture. Subsequent combination of the structures with photovoltaic cells allows facile and efficient completion of modular arrays. Methods for combining the collector and interconnection structures with cells and final interconnecting into modular arrays are taught.