NanoGram Corporation Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140346436 | PRINTABLE INKS WITH SILICON/GERMANIUM BASED NANOPARTICLES WITH HIGH VISCOSITY ALCOHOL SOLVENTS - Silicon based nanoparticle inks are formulated with viscous polycyclic alcohols to control the rheology of the inks. The inks can be formulated into pastes with non-Newtonian rheology and good screen printing properties. The inks can have low metal contamination such that they are suitable for forming semiconductor structures. The silicon based nanoparticles can be elemental silicon particles with or without dopant. | 11-27-2014 |
20140162445 | SILICON SUBSTRATES WITH DOPED SURFACE CONTACTS FORMED FROM DOPED SILICON BASED INKS AND CORRESPONDING PROCESSES - The use of doped silicon nanoparticle inks and other liquid dopant sources can provide suitable dopant sources for driving dopant elements into a crystalline silicon substrate using a thermal process if a suitable cap is provided. Suitable caps include, for example, a capping slab, a cover that may or may not rest on the surface of the substrate and a cover layer. Desirable dopant profiled can be achieved. The doped nanoparticles can be delivered using a silicon ink. The residual silicon ink can be removed after the dopant drive-in or at least partially densified into a silicon material that is incorporated into the product device. The silicon doping is suitable for the introduction of dopants into crystalline silicon for the formation of solar cells. | 06-12-2014 |
20140151706 | STRUCTURES INCORPORATING SILICON NANOPARTICLE INKS, DENSIFIED SILICON MATERIALS FROM NANOPARTICLE SILICON DEPOSITS AND CORRESPONDING METHODS - Silicon nanoparticle inks provide a basis for the formation of desirable materials. Specifically, composites have been formed in thin layers comprising silicon nanoparticles embedded in an amorphous silicon matrix, which can be formed at relatively low temperatures. The composite material can be heated to form a nanocrystalline material having crystals that are non-rod shaped. The nanocrystalline material can have desirable electrical conductive properties, and the materials can be formed with a high dopant level. Also, nanocrystalline silicon pellets can be formed from silicon nanoparticles deposited form an ink in which the pellets can be relatively dense although less dense than bulk silicon. The pellets can be formed from the application of pressure and heat to a silicon nanoparticle layer. The materials described herein can be effectively used for the formation of doped contacts for crystalline silicon solar cells, thin film silicon solar cells, electronic devices, such as printed electronics, and other useful products. | 06-05-2014 |
20140138135 | SILICON/GERMANIUM PARTICLE INKS, DOPED PARTICLES, PRINTING AND PROCESSES FOR SEMICONDUCTOR APPLICATIONS - Highly uniform silicon/germanium nanoparticles can be formed into stable dispersions with a desirable small secondary particle size. The silicon/germanium particles can be surface modified to form the dispersions. The silicon/germanium nanoparticles can be doped to change the particle properties. The dispersions can be printed as an ink for appropriate applications. The dispersions can be used to form selectively doped deposits of semiconductor materials such as for the formation of photovoltaic cells or for the formation of printed electronic circuits. | 05-22-2014 |
20140106551 | BACK CONTACT SOLAR CELLS WITH EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT DESIGNS AND CORRESPONDING PATTERNING PROCESSES - Laser based processes are used alone or in combination to effectively process doped domains for semiconductors and/or current harvesting structures. For example, dopants can be driven into a silicon/germanium semiconductor layer from a bare silicon/germanium surface using a laser beam. Deep contacts have been found to be effective for producing efficient solar cells. Dielectric layers can be effectively patterned to provide for selected contact between the current collectors and the doped domains along the semiconductor surface. Rapid processing approaches are suitable for efficient production processes. | 04-17-2014 |
20140084222 | SILICON NANOPARTICLE DISPERSIONS - Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures. | 03-27-2014 |
20140047996 | DISPERSIONS OF SUBMICRON DOPED SILICON PARTICLES - Methods are described that have the capability of producing submicron/nanoscale particles, in some embodiments dispersible, at high production rates. In some embodiments, the methods result in the production of particles with an average diameter less than about 75 nanometers that are produced at a rate of at least about 35 grams per hour. In other embodiments, the particles are highly uniform. These methods can be used to form particle collections and/or powder coatings. Powder coatings and corresponding methods are described based on the deposition of highly uniform submicron/nanoscale particles. | 02-20-2014 |
20130221286 | SILICON/GERMANIUM NANOPARTICLE INKS, LASER PYROLYSIS REACTORS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF NANOPARTICLES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Laser pyrolysis reactor designs and corresponding reactant inlet nozzles are described to provide desirable particle quenching that is particularly suitable for the synthesis of elemental silicon particles. In particular, the nozzles can have a design to encourage nucleation and quenching with inert gas based on a significant flow of inert gas surrounding the reactant precursor flow and with a large inert entrainment flow effectively surrounding the reactant precursor and quench gas flows. Improved silicon nanoparticle inks are described that has silicon nanoparticles without any surface modification with organic compounds. The silicon ink properties can be engineered for particular printing applications, such as inkjet printing, gravure printing or screen printing. Appropriate processing methods are described to provide flexibility for ink designs without surface modifying the silicon nanoparticles. | 08-29-2013 |
20130217821 | COMPOSITES OF POLYSILOXANE POLYMERS AND INORGANIC NANOPARTICLES - Desirable composites of polysiloxane polymers and inorganic nanoparticles can be formed based on the appropriate selection of the surface properties of the particles and the chemical properties of the polymer. High loadings of particles can be achieved with good dispersion through the polymer. The composites can have good optical properties. In some embodiments, the inorganic particles are substantially free of surface modification. | 08-22-2013 |
20130190438 | DISPERSIONS OF SILICON NANOPARTICLES - Inorganic particle/polymer composites are described that involve chemical bonding between the elements of the composite. In some embodiments, the composite composition includes a polymer having side groups chemically bonded to inorganic particles. Furthermore, the composite composition can include chemically bonded inorganic particles and ordered copolymers. Various electrical, optical and electro-optical devices can be formed from the composites. | 07-25-2013 |
20130056069 | SOLAR CELL STRUCTURES, PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS AND CORRESPONDING PROCESSES - Photovoltaic modules comprise solar cells having doped domains of opposite polarities along the rear side of the cells. The doped domains can be located within openings through a dielectric passivation layer. In some embodiments, the solar cells are formed from thin silicon foils. Doped domains can be formed by printing inks along the rear surface of the semiconducting sheets. The dopant inks can comprise nanoparticles having the desired dopant. | 03-07-2013 |
20130012636 | DISPERSIONS OF SILICON NANOPARTICLES - Inorganic particle/polymer composites are described that involve chemical bonding between the elements of the composite. In some embodiments, the composite composition includes a polymer having side groups chemically bonded to inorganic particles. Furthermore, the composite composition can include chemically bonded inorganic particles and ordered copolymers. Various electrical, optical and electro-optical devices can be formed from the composites. | 01-10-2013 |
20120319053 | SILICON NANOPARTICLE DISPERSIONS - Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures. | 12-20-2012 |
20120318168 | SILICON/GERMANIUM OXIDE PARTICLE INKS AND PROCESSES FOR FORMING SOLAR CELL COMPONENTS AND FOR FORMING OPTICAL COMPONENTS - Highly uniform silica nanoparticles can be formed into stable dispersions with a desirable small secondary particle size. The silica particles can be surface modified to form the dispersions. The silica nanoparticles can be doped to change the particle properties and/or to provide dopant for subsequent transfer to other materials. The dispersions can be printed as an ink for appropriate applications. The dispersions can be used to selectively dope semiconductor materials such as for the formation of photovoltaic cells or for the formation of printed electronic circuits. | 12-20-2012 |
20110135928 | METAL SILICON NITRIDE OR METAL SILICON OXYNITRIDE SUBMICRON PHOSPHOR PARTICLES AND METHODS FOR SYNTHESIZING THESE PHOSPHORS - Submicron powders of metal silicon nitrides and metal silicon oxynitrides are synthesized using nanoscale particles of one or more precursor materials using a solid state reaction. For example, nanoscale powders of silicon nitride are useful precursor powders for the synthesis of metal silicon nitride and metal silicon oxynitride submicron powders. Due to the use of the nanoscale precursor materials for the synthesis of the submicron phosphor powders, the product phosphors can have very high internal quantum efficiencies. The phosphor powders can comprise a suitable dopant activator, such as a rare earth metal element dopant. | 06-09-2011 |
20090255189 | ALUMINUM OXIDE PARTICLES - A collection of nanoparticles of aluminum oxide have been produced by laser pyrolysis have a very narrow distribution of particle diameters. Preferably, the distribution of particle diameters effectively does not have a tail such that almost no particles have a diameter greater than about 4 times the average diameter. The pyrolysis preferably is performed by generating a molecular stream containing an aluminum precursor, an oxidizing agent and an infrared absorber. The pyrolysis can be performed with an infrared laser such as a CO | 10-15-2009 |