Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the manufacture of a partially transparent thin-layer solar module in which the opaque layers (primarily the semiconductor layer and the back contact layer) comprise defined surface regions which lack the material of these layers. These surface regions which are free of material may be produced by not coating them during manufacture or by retroactively removing them from the surface regions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for coating plate-shaped substrates, in particular glass substrates for solar cell production. The method includes heating the substrates, which are moved on transporting shafts through heating and coating chambers, by a different amount on the upper and lower sides, so that the coating temperature can be increased without the substrates becoming too soft to handle. A device is described which is suitable for carrying out the method and has heating and coating chambers, which have independent heating systems, as well as a transport system.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing substrates by means of a CSS process comprising a heated receptacle (20) for a supply (70) of material to be deposited and carrier means for holding the substrate (60) with its side to be deposited towards an opening (22) of said receptacle, said receptacle opening (22) being provided with a cover (30) including a plurality of through-holes (32) for the sublimated material, said cover separating said material supply (70) from said substrate (60) and, due to being heated to a temperature higher than that of said receptacle (20), acting as sublimation source for said substrate.

Abstract: A method of making pn CdTe/CdS thin film solar cells, in which a transparent TCO layer is deposited as a front contact on a transparent substrate in the form of inexpensive soda-lime glass, and is preferably provided with an ultra-thin indium layer, which is in turn coated with the CdS layer, wherein the thus coated substrate is brought to the CdTe coating at a temperature between 480.degree. C. and 520.degree. C., which is maintained during the ensuing rapid CdTe deposition using the close-spaced sublimation method with a preferred rate of deposition of 5 to 15 .mu.m/min in an inert atmosphere. The indium layer dissolves during this deposition and effects the necessary n-doping of the CdS layer, without an additional method step. Solar cells can be made in this way with high efficiency in an inexpensive method, suitable for mass production.