Fusion Formable Alkali-Free Intermediate Thermal Expansion Coefficient Glass

Abstract

A compositional range of high strain point and/or intermediate expansion coefficient alkali metal free aluminosilicate and boroaluminosilicate glasses are described herein. The glasses can be used as substrates or superstrates for photovoltaic devices, for example, thin film photovoltaic devices such as CdTe or CIGS photovoltaic devices or crystalline silicon wafer devices. These glasses can be characterized as having strain points ≧600° C., thermal expansion coefficient of from 35 to 50×10 −7 /° C.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass comprising, in mole percent: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   58-64%  
                   SiO 2 ; 
                 
                   8-13% 
                   Al 2 O 3 ; 
                 
                   6-12% 
                   B 2 O 3 ; 
                 
                   0-7%  
                   MgO; 
                 
                   0-12% 
                   SrO; 
                 
                   0-16% 
                   CaO; and 
                 
                   2-9%  
                   BaO, 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         wherein the glass is substantially free of alkali metal, and the glass is characterized by a liquidus temperature of 1150° C. or lower. 
       
     
     
         2 . The glass according to  claim 1 , comprising 2-11% CaO. 
     
     
         3 . The glass according to  claim 1 , comprising 2-7.6% BaO. 
     
     
         4 . The glass according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass has a liquidus viscosity of 100,000 poise or greater. 
     
     
         5 . The glass according to  claim 1 , wherein MgO+CaO+BaO+SrO is 13 to 20 percent. 
     
     
         6 . The glass according to  claim 1 , having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of from about 35×110 −7 /° C. to about 50×10 −7 /° C. 
     
     
         7 . The glass according to  claim 1 , comprising 0 to about 2 mole percent of TiO 2 , MnO, ZnO, Nb 2 O 5 , Ta 2 O 5 , ZrO 2 , La 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , P 2 O 5 , or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The glass according to  claim 1 , comprising 63.9 mole % SiO 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The glass according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass has 0.05 mole % or less alkali. 
     
     
         10 . The glass according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass has a strain point of ≧600° C. 
     
     
         11 . The glass according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass is in the form of a sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The glass according to  claim 11 , wherein the sheet is fusion formed. 
     
     
         13 . The glass according to  claim 11 , wherein the sheet is used in a photovoltaic device. 
     
     
         14 . The glass according to  claim 1 , comprising, in mole percent: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   63.9% 
                   SiO 2 ; 
                 
                   9.0% 
                   Al 2 O 3 ; 
                 
                   9.0% 
                   B 2 O 3 ; 
                 
                   3.5% 
                   MgO; 
                 
                   2.0% 
                   SrO; 
                 
                   5.5% 
                   CaO; and 
                 
                   7.0% 
                   BaO. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         15 . The glass according to  claim 1 , comprising, in mole percent: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   63.9% 
                   SiO 2 ; 
                 
                   9.0% 
                   Al 2 O 3 ; 
                 
                   9.0% 
                   B 2 O 3 ; 
                 
                   4.5% 
                   MgO; 
                 
                   2.0% 
                   SrO; 
                 
                   4.5% 
                   CaO; and 
                 
                   7.0% 
                   BaO. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         16 . A photovoltaic device comprising the glass according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The photovoltaic device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The photovoltaic device according to  claim 17 , further comprising one or more intermediate layers disposed between said glass sheet and said substrate.