US Patent 7422922 - Photovoltaics formed with semiconductor nanoparticle electrodes

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7422922.html

This patent from Sony teaches a new manufacturing method for forming nanoparticle based solar cells having enhanced adhesiveness between the photovoltaic material and a substrate and better durability with respect to bending or expansion of the substrate. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device using a semiconductor electrode comprising semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising:

coating a paste containing a binder and semiconductor nanoparticles dispersed therein on a transparent conductive substrate; and

forming the semiconductor electrode by drying the paste, and thereafter pressing the paste to bond the semiconductor nanoparticles onto the transparent conductive substrate while heating it to a temperature in the range from 30° C. to a softening temperature of the transparent conductive substrate, wherein pressing the paste includes contacting the paste with a device suited for pressing.