Use of Aluminosilicate Glasses as Substrate Glasses for Photopholtaics

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This invention describes the use of aluminosilicate glass, particularly those that are boron-free or low in boron and have higher alumina (Al2O3) content than alkali (R2O), as a substrate material for photovoltaic (solar) applications. The aluminosilicate glass can be produced using significant proportions of waste mineral materials or recycled glass, and it offers enhanced thermal properties favorable for manufacturing thin-film solar cells.

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• Substrate glass in thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing
• Recycling of glass from decommissioned or defective photovoltaic modules
• Reuse of industrial mineral waste (e.g., incineration ash, slags) for glass production
• Production of cost-effective and environmentally friendly glass for the solar industry
• Replacement of conventional float glass in high-temperature PV manufacturing processes

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Reduction of raw material costs by utilizing waste and recycled materials
• Enables higher process temperatures in PV manufacturing, potentially increasing solar cell efficiency and productivity
• Reduces environmental impact by recycling glass and industrial waste, and provides an end-of-life recycling path for solar modules
• Lower alkali mobility improves stability, critical for thin-film semiconductor processes
• Potential significant reduction in overall module manufacturing costs
• Allows safe encapsulation of problematic semiconductor materials within the glass matrix
• Minimizes the energy cost of glass production by leveraging the heat content of incoming waste materials

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to the use of an aluminosilicate glass as the substrate glass for photovoltaics, said glass having a glass composition which is boron-free or low in boron and which - based on the oxide base of the glass composition in mole percent - has an Al2O3 content that is higher than the alkali content R2O.