Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for processing a solar cell precursor. The processing may include forming a transparent, electrically conductive first layer over the solar cell precursor. The processing may also include forming a transparent, electrically conductive second layer over the solar cell precursor, preferably in physical contact with the first layer. The first layer may comprise at least indium, zinc, and oxygen and the second layer may comprise oxygen and a greater proportion of indium than the first layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for depositing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer on a substrate, in which contaminations of the layers of the layer system is reduced through the diffusion of material from the substrate, and whose layer properties in respect to coupling and transmission of light are optimized. For that purpose, a barrier layer, a seed layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer are directly successively deposited on the substrate. Also, a thin-film solar cell is described which comprises such a transparent conductive oxide layer.

Abstract: A thin-film solar cell includes a front-side glass substrate, a front contact arranged above the glass substrate, an absorber arranged above the front contact, and a rear contact arranged above the absorber. A TCO layer system composed of an intrinsic TCO layer deposited above the substrate and a doped TCO layer arranged thereabove is provided, as well as a method for producing such a thin-film solar cell. Improved transmission, reflection and absorption properties of the TCO layer is achieved by composing the TCO layer of a first doped TCO sublayer deposited directly on the intrinsic TCO layer, and a second doped TCO sublayer deposited directly on the first doped TCO sublayer.

Abstract: A method is provided for depositing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer on a substrate, in which contaminations of the layers of the layer system is reduced through the diffusion of material from the substrate, and whose layer properties in respect to coupling and transmission of light are optimized. For that purpose, a barrier layer, a seed layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer are directly successively deposited on the substrate. Also, a thin-film solar cell is described which comprises such a transparent conductive oxide layer.