A layer of an n-type chalcogenide compositions provided on a substrate in the presence of an oxidizing gas in an amount sufficient to provide a resistivity to the layer that is less than the resistivity a layer deposited under identical conditions but in the substantial absence of oxygen.

A solar cell according to an embodiment includes a substrate; a barrier layer of a nano rod structure on the substrate; a back electrode layer disposed on the barrier layer; a light absorbing layer disposed on the back electrode layer; a buffer layer disposed on the light absorbing layer, and a window layer disposed on the buffer layer.

A flexible solar array for extraterrestrial deployment and a method of manufacturing such a flexible solar array are disclosed. A power generating layer, a durable layer, and an ultraviolet radiation blocking layer are disposed such that durable layer is between the power generating layer and the ultraviolet radiation blocking layer.

Disclosed are a solar cell apparatus and a method of fabricating the same. The A solar cell apparatus includes a substrate; a back electrode layer on the substrate; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; and a window layer on the light absorbing layer, wherein the light absorbing layer is formed with a third through hole having a first width, and the window layer is formed with a fourth through hole having a second width larger than the first width, and the fourth through hole corresponds to the third through hole.

A layer structure for a thin-film solar cell and production method are provided. The layer structure for the thin-film solar cell includes a photovoltaic absorber layer doped, at least in a region which borders a surface of the photovoltaic absorber layer, with at least one alkali metal. The layer structure has an oxidic passivating layer on the surface of the photovoltaic absorber layer, which is designed to protect the photovoltaic absorber layer from corrosion.

A thin-film solar cell contains: a lens material layer, a conductive contact layer, a first n-p semiconductor layer, a second n-p semiconductor layer, an insulation layer, a transparent conducting layer, a substrate, multiple first vias, multiple insulators, and multiple electrical conductors. A respective first via passes through the lens material layer, the conductive contact layer, and the first n-p semiconductor layer. The multiple insulators are accommodated in the respective first via, a top of a respective insulator is connected with the second n-p semiconductor layer, and a bottom of the respective insulator is connected with the insulation layer. The respective insulator includes a respective second via. A respective electrical conductor is formed in the respective second via, a top of the respective electrical conductor is connected with a respective transparent conducting layer, and a bottom of the respective electrical conductor is connected with the substrate.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to photovoltaic devices, CIGS containing films, and methods of manufacturing CIGS containing films and photovoltaic devices to improve quantum efficiency, reduce interface charges, electron losses, and electron re-combinations. The CIGS layers in the photovoltaic devices described herein may be deposited using physical vapor deposition, followed by in-situ oxygen annealing, and further followed by deposition of a cap layer over the CIGS layer without subjecting the CIGS layer to an air break.

A flexible laminated solar cell comprising a CIGS photovoltaic layer having two opposing generally flat first and second parallel surfaces; a first encapsulation layer placed on each of said first and second parallel surfaces; an encapsulation vapor barrier film placed on each of said first encaption layers; a second encapsulation layer placed on said encapsulation vapor barrier films; and a third encapsulation layer placed on at least one of said second encapsulation layers. The laminated structure with encapsulation layers protects the CIGS photovoltaic layer against moisture and atmospheric pollutants. The CIGS laminated structure is used in a versatile portable solar charger provided with user interfaces to monitor and control the charger and devices or features contained therein.

A method includes forming, on a substrate by performing physical vapor deposition in vacuum, an absorber layer including copper (Cu), indium (In), gallium (Ga) and selenium (Se), forming a stack including the substrate and an oxygen-annealed absorber layer by performing in-situ oxygen annealing of the absorber layer to improve quantum efficiency of the image sensor by passivating selenium vacancies due to dangling bonds, and forming a cap layer over the oxygen-annealed absorber layer by performing physical vapor deposition in vacuum. The cap layer includes at least one of: Ga.sub.2O.sub.3.Math.Sn, ZnS, CdS, CdSe, ZnO, ZnSe, ZnIn.sub.2Se.sub.4, CuGaS.sub.2, In.sub.2S.sub.3, MgO, or Zn.sub.0.8Mg.sub.0.2O.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a high efficiency flexible thin film solar cell module including a see-thru pattern. The method of manufacturing a flexible thin film solar cell module includes: sequentially forming a light-absorbing layer, a first buffer layer, and a first transparent electrode layer on the release layer; forming a second buffer layer on the exposed bottom surface of the light-absorbing layer; forming a P2 scribing pattern by removing at least one portion of each of the first buffer layer, the light-absorbing layer, and the second buffer layer; forming a second transparent electrode layer on the second buffer layer and the first transparent electrode layer exposed by the P2 scribing pattern; and forming a P4 see-thru pattern by selectively removing at least one portion of the first buffer layer, the light-absorbing layer, the second buffer layer, and the second transparent electrode layer.