METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SOLAR PANEL THAT IS PARTIALLY TRANSPARENT

摘要

A method is described for making a partially transparent thin film solar panel based on transparent glass or plastic substrates by creating an array of small light transmitting apertures through all the opaque layers by using an ink jet print head to apply droplets of an etching fluid to the top electrode layer to form apertures in the electrode layer. These apertures may then be used as a contact mask for etching holes though the underlying active layer (if this is opaque). In this second stage, the etchant may be applied using an ink jet print head or by spraying or the panel may be immersed in the etchant.