| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 438097000 | Polycrystalline semiconductor | 49 |
| 20080268566 | Method For Re-Crystallization Of Layer Structures By Means Of Zone Melting, A Device For This Purpose And Use Thereof - The invention relates to a method for re-crystallization of layer structures by means of zone melting, in which, as a result of convenient arrangement of a plurality of heat sources, a significant acceleration of the zone melting method can be achieved. The method is based on the fact that a continuous recrystallisation of the layer is ensured as a result of overlaps being produced. According to the invention, a device is likewise provided with which the method according to the invention can be achieved. The method according to the invention is used in particular in the production of crystalline silicon thin layer solar cells or for example in SOI technology. However the application likewise relates also in general to the processing of metals, plastic materials or adhesives and here in particular to the production of thin layers. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080311697 | Method For Simultaneous Recrystallization and Doping of Semiconductor Layers and Semiconductor Layer Systems Produced According to This Method - The invention relates to a method for simultaneous recrystallisation and doping of semiconductor layers, in particular for the production of crystalline silicon thin layer solar cells. In this method, in a first step a substrate base layer | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090029503 | Method for manufacturing photoelectric conversion device - To form a microcrystalline semiconductor with high quality which can be directly formed at equal to or less than 500° C. over a large substrate with high productivity without decreasing a deposition rate. In addition, to provide a photoelectric conversion device which employs the microcrystalline semiconductor as a photoelectric conversion layer. A reactive gas containing helium is supplied to a treatment chamber which is surrounded by a plurality of juxtaposed waveguides and a wall, the pressure in the treatment chamber is maintained at an atmospheric pressure or a subatmospheric pressure, microwave is supplied to a space sandwiched between the juxtaposed waveguides to generate plasma, and a photoelectric conversion layer of a microcrystalline semiconductor is deposited over a substrate which is placed in the treatment chamber. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090087943 | METHOD FOR FORMING LARGE GRAIN POLYSILICON THIN FILM MATERIAL - A method of forming polysilicon thin film material for photovoltaic devices. The method includes providing a polycrystalline silicon substrate. The polycrystalline silicon substrate includes a surface region, a backside region, and a thickness. In a specific embodiment, the method forms a polysilicon thin film material using a deposition process overlying the surface region of the polycrystalline silicon substrate. The polysilicon thin film material is characterized by a grain size greater than about 0.1 mm. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090104733 | MICROCRYSTALLINE SILICON DEPOSITION FOR THIN FILM SOLAR APPLICATIONS - Embodiments of the invention as recited in the claims relate to thin film multi-junction solar cells and methods and apparatuses for forming the same. In one embodiment a method of forming a thin film multi-junction solar cell over a substrate is provided. The method comprises positioning a substrate in a reaction zone, providing a gas mixture to the reaction zone, wherein the gas mixture comprises a silicon containing compound and hydrogen gas, forming a first region of an intrinsic type microcrystalline silicon layer on the substrate at a first deposition rate, forming a second region of the intrinsic type microcrystalline silicon layer on the substrate at a second deposition rate higher than the first deposition rate, and forming a third region of the intrinsic type microcrystalline silicon layer on the substrate at a third deposition rate lower than the second deposition rate. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090117685 | THIN FILM SOLAR CELL AND ITS FABRICATION - A method for producing a solar cell including the steps of forming a p-type microcrystalline silicon oxide layer on a glass substrate using a PECVD method and raw gases comprising Silane gas, Diborane gas, Hydrogen gas and Carbon Dioxide gas. The method may employ a frequency of between about 13.56-60 MHz. The PECVD method may be performed at a power density of between about 10-40 mW/cm | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090162971 | PHOTO DIODE AND RELATED METHOD FOR FABRICATION - A method for fabricating a photo diode first involves providing a substrate. A doping area is then formed on the substrate. Afterwards, a dielectric layer, and a first poly-silicon layer are formed on the substrate. An opening is then formed to expose a surface of the doping area. A second poly-silicon layer is formed on the first poly-silicon layer and within the opening. The second poly-silicon layer is patterned to form a wire, while the first poly-silicon layer is patterned to form a gate. Finally, a source/drain is formed. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090181492 | NANO-CLEAVE A THIN-FILM OF SILICON FOR SOLAR CELL FABRICATION - An approach for nano-cleaving a thin-film of silicon for solar cell fabrication is described. In one embodiment, there is a method of forming a substrate for use as a solar cell substrate. In this embodiment, a substrate of silicon is provided and implanted with an ion flux. A non-silicon substrate is attached to the thin-film of silicon to form a solar cell substrate. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090215221 | Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same - An image sensor may include a photo diode, a transfer transistor configured to transfer a photo charge generated by the photo diode to a floating diffusion region and buried channel transistors electrically coupled to the transfer transistor, wherein each of the transistors have a buried channel. The noise of the image sensor may be reduced because a channel of the buried-channel transistors in the active pixel region may be formed apart from a defected surface of a substrate when the buried-channel transistors are turned on. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20100003780 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING A MICROCRYSTALLINE SILICON FILM FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - Methods for depositing a microcrystalline silicon film layer with improved deposition rate and film quality are provided in the present invention. Also, a photovoltaic (PV) cell having a microcrystalline silicon film is provided. In one embodiment, the method produces a microcrystalline silicon film on a substrate at a deposition rate greater than about 20 nm per minute, wherein the microcrystalline silicon film has a crystallized volume between about 20 percent to about 80 percent. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100029037 | LIGHT OR RADIATION DETECTOR MANUFACTURING METHOD - In a light or radiation detector manufacturing method and a light or radiation detector of this invention, when forming a semiconductor, the semiconductor is formed in a predetermined thickness on a dummy substrate by vapor deposition, subsequently the dummy substrate is replaced with a graphite substrate which is a supporting substrate, and the semiconductor continues to be formed on the graphite substrate by vapor deposition. The time when forming the semiconductor in the predetermined thickness on the dummy substrate by vapor deposition is an initial state, and a defective film inevitably to be formed is formed on the dummy substrate. Subsequently, a semiconductor not in the initial state is formed on the graphite substrate put as replacement. This realizes a detector having the semiconductor of higher quality than in the prior art. The semiconductor manufactured in this way is formed continuously at least in a direction of thickness. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100029038 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SOLAR CELL AND MANUFACTURING APPARATUS OF SOLAR CELL - There is manufactured a solar cell having a high energy conversion efficiency. A surface layer of a polycrystalline silicon layer serving as a n-type layer formed on a polycrystalline silicon substrate serving as a p-type layer is oxidized by using plasma and then a silicon nitride film is deposited by a CVD process, whereby a passivation film is formed on the surface layer of the polycrystalline silicon layer. The plasma oxidation process is performed by using plasma having a sheath potential equal to or less than about 10 eV at a pressure ranging from about 6.67 Pa to about 6.67×10 | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100167461 | DRY CLEANING OF SILICON SURFACE FOR SOLAR CELL APPLICATIONS - A method and apparatus for cleaning layers of solar cell substrates is disclosed. The substrate is exposed to a reactive gas that may comprise neutral radicals comprising nitrogen and fluorine, or that may comprise anhydrous HF and water, alcohol, or a mixture of water and alcohol. The reactive gas may further comprise a carrier gas. The reactive gas etches the solar cell substrate surface, removing oxygen and other impurities. When exposed to the neutral radicals, the substrate grows a thin film containing ammonium hexafluorosilicate, which is subsequently removed by heat treatment. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100173449 | METHODS OF FABRICATING P-I-N DIODES, STRUCTURES FOR P-I-N DIODES AND DESIGN STRUCTURE FOR P-I-N DIODES - Methods of fabricating P-I-N diodes, structures for P-I-N diodes and design structure for P-I-N diodes. A method includes: forming a trench in a silicon substrate; forming a doped region in the substrate abutting the trench; growing an intrinsic epitaxial silicon layer on surfaces of the trench; depositing a doped polysilicon layer to fill remaining space in the trench, performing a chemical mechanical polish so top surfaces of the intrinsic epitaxial silicon layer and the doped polysilicon layer are coplanar; forming a dielectric isolation layer in the substrate; forming a dielectric layer on top of the isolation layer; and forming a first metal contact to the doped polysilicon layer through the dielectric layer and a second contact to the doped region the dielectric and through the isolation layer. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100216278 | Method for making multi-cystalline film of solar cell - A method is disclosed for making a multi-crystalline silicon film of a solar cell. In the method, a titanium-based film is coated on a ceramic substrate. A back surface field layer is coated on the titanium-based film via providing dichlorosilane and diborane in an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition process at a first temperature. A light-soaking layer is coated on the back surface field layer via providing more dichlorosilane and diborane in the atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition process at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100227431 | CRYSTALLINE SILICON SOLAR CELLS ON LOW PURITY SUBSTRATE - A method is provided for making a crystalline silicon solar cell on a low purity substrate by depositing p+-p-n+, or n+-n-p+ layers of amorphous silicon, depending on the type of wafer, on a crystalline silicon substrate, such as an upgraded metallurgical grade silicon substrate, with substrate vias of varying diameters formed thereon, annealing the stack of amorphous silicon layers to cause solid phase epitaxial crystallization, and metallizing the substrate assembly using standard metallization techniques. One embodiment of the present invention provides depositing a passivation layer onto the third deposited silicon layer subsequent to the crystallization. Another embodiment provides depositing a passivation layer on the back side of the substrate subsequent to crystallization and punching selected regions at the substrate vias prior to back metallization. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100227432 | METHOD FOR SELECTIVE UNDER-ETCHING OF POROUS SILICON - A method for making a solar cell is disclosed. In accordance with the method of the present invention a composite wafer is formed. The composite layer includes a single crystal silicon wafer, a silicon-based device layer and sacrificial porous silicon sandwiched therebetween. The composite wafer is treated to an aqueous etchant maintained below ambient temperatures to selectively etch the sacrificial porous silicon and release or undercut the silicon-based layer from the single crystal silicon wafer. The released silicon device layer is attached to a substrate to make a solar cell and the released single crystal silicon wafer is reused to make additional silicon device layer. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100330735 | METHOD OF FORMING OPTICAL SENSOR - A method of forming an optical sensor includes the following steps. A substrate is provided, and a read-out device is formed on the substrate. a first electrode electrically connected to the read-out device is formed on the substrate. a photosensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer is formed on the first electrode, wherein the photosensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer comprises a plurality of nanocrystalline silicon crystals. A second electrode is formed on the photosensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110014742 | METHOD OF CREATING REUSABLE TEMPLATE FOR DETACHABLE THIN FILM SUBSTRATE - A structure and method operable to create a reusable template for detachable thin semiconductor substrates is provided. The template has a shape such that the 3-D shape is substantially retained after each substrate release. Prior art reusable templates may have a tendency to change shape after each subsequent reuse; the present disclosure aims to address this and other deficiencies from the prior art, therefore increasing the reuse life of the template. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110053311 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE - Provided is a technique for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion element using a dense crystalline semiconductor film without a cavity between crystal grains. A method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device having a first electrode, a unit cell, and a second electrode over a substrate includes the steps of: forming a plasma region between a first electrode and a second electrode by supplying high-frequency power of 60 MHz or less to the first electrode under a condition where a pressure of a reactive gas in a chamber of a plasma CVD apparatus is set to from 450 Pa to 13332 Pa, and a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode of the plasma CVD apparatus is set to from 1 mm to 20 mm, preferably, 4 mm to 16 mm; forming deposition precursors including a crystalline semiconductor in a gas phase including the plasma region; forming a crystal nucleus having a grain size of from 5 nm to 15 nm by depositing the deposition precursors; and forming a semiconductor film having a first conductivity type, a semiconductor film effective in photoelectric conversion, or a semiconductor film having a first conductivity type in the unit cell, by growing a crystal from the crystal nucleus. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110117693 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TEMPERING OBJECTS IN A TREATMENT CHAMBER - The invention relates to a device ( | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110129959 | CRYSTALLIZATION PROCESSING FOR SEMICONDUCTOR APPLICATIONS - A method and apparatus for forming a crystalline semiconductor layer on a substrate are provided. A semiconductor layer is formed by vapor deposition. A pulsed laser melt/recrystallization process is performed to convert the semiconductor layer to a crystalline layer. Laser, or other electromagnetic radiation, pulses are formed into a pulse train and uniformly distributed over a treatment zone, and successive neighboring treatment zones are exposed to the pulse train to progressively convert the deposited material to crystalline material. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110165726 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR PRODUCING A FUNCTIONAL LAYER ON A SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENT - A method for producing at least one functional layer on at least one region of a surface of a semiconductor component by applying a liquid to at least the one region, where the functional layer has a layer thickness d | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110217811 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MICROCRYSTALLINE SEMICONDUCTOR FILM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method for manufacturing a microcrystalline semiconductor film having high crystallinity is provided. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which has favorable electric characteristics with high productivity is provided. After a first microcrystalline semiconductor film is formed over a substrate, treatment for flattening a surface of the first microcrystalline semiconductor film is performed. Then, treatment for removing an amorphous semiconductor region on a surface side of the flattened first microcrystalline semiconductor film is performed so that a second microcrystalline semiconductor film having high crystallinity and flatness is formed. After that, a third microcrystalline semiconductor film is formed over the second microcrystalline semiconductor film. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110237023 | METHOD OF FABRICATING SOLAR CELL USING MICROWAVE AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAME - A method of fabricating a solar cell includes: forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a first impurity-doped semiconductor layer on the first electrode; forming a first intrinsic semiconductor layer of amorphous silicon on the first impurity-doped semiconductor layer; forming a second impurity-doped semiconductor layer over the first impurity-doped semiconductor layer, forming a second electrode over the second impurity-doped semiconductor layer; and irradiating a first microwave to form a second intrinsic semiconductor layer of microcrystalline silicon by crystallizing the first intrinsic semiconductor layer. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20120009729 | Method of Producing a Solar Cell - A method for manufacturing a solar cell is disclosed. A conductive layer is introduced into a mold having an interior defining a shape of a solar cell. A planar capillary space is formed along the conductive layer. A measure of silicon is placed in fluid communication with the capillary space. The silicon is melted and allowed to flow into the capillary space. The melted silicon is then cooled within the capillary space such that the silicon forms a p-n junction along the conductive layer. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120077306 | Method for Fabricating Solar Cell Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition - In one example, a method for fabricating a solar cell comprising a first electrode, a first-type layer, an intrinsic layer, a second-type layer and a second electrode is disclosed. At least one of the second-type layer, the intrinsic layer and the first-type layer is formed as a crystallized Si layer by an inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) device using mixed gas including hydrogen (H | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120094430 | CRYSTALLINE SILICON MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOLAR CELL USING THE SAME - A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes: forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a P-type layer on the first electrode; forming an N-type layer on the P-type layer using a crystalline silicon manufacturing apparatus; and forming a second electrode on the N-type layer to form the solar cell. In this method, the forming of the N-type layer includes contacting the P-type layer with a gas including monosilane and hydrogen to form a sub N-type layer including an amorphous silicon layer, mirco-crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer by irradiating light onto the amorphous silicon layer, and repeating the contacting and the mirco-crystallizing to form the N-type layer. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120231575 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLAR CELL - The occurrence of internal stress is reduced during the solar cell production process, thereby reducing crystal defects and recombination loss. Provided is a method for producing a solar cell having a p-n junction, which involves a step for forming a p-type layer on a semiconductor substrate by applying a coating liquid for diffusion containing impurity which serves as an acceptor, and by diffusing the impurity by means of thermal diffusion and/or a step for forming an n-type layer on a semiconductor substrate by applying a coating liquid for diffusion containing impurity which serves as a donor, and by diffusing the impurity through a thermal diffusion treatment. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120276685 | BACKSIDE CONTACT SOLAR CELL WITH FORMED POLYSILICON DOPED REGIONS - A solar cell includes abutting P-type and N-type doped regions in a contiguous portion of a polysilicon layer. The polysilicon layer may be formed on a thin dielectric layer, which is formed on a backside of a solar cell substrate (e.g., silicon wafer). The polysilicon layer has a relatively large average grain size to reduce or eliminate recombination in a space charge region between the P-type and N-type doped regions, thereby increasing efficiency. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120322199 | PATTERNED DOPING FOR POLYSILICON EMITTER SOLAR CELLS - An improved method of manufacturing a polysilicon solar cell is disclosed. To create the polysilicon layer, which has p-type and n-type regions, the layer is grown in the presence of one type of dopant. After the doped polysilicon layer has been created, ions of the opposite dopant conductivity are selectively implanted into portions of the polysilicon layer. This selective implant may be performed using a shadow mask. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120329204 | WAFER FOR BACKSIDE ILLUMINATION TYPE SOLID IMAGING DEVICE, PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF AND BACKSIDE ILLUMINATION SOLID IMAGING DEVICE - A wafer for backside illumination type solid imaging device has a plurality of pixels inclusive of a photoelectric conversion device and a charge transfer transistor at its front surface side and a light receiving surface at its back surface side, wherein said wafer is a SOI wafer obtained by forming a given active layer on a support substrate made of C-containing p-type semiconductor material through an insulating layer. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130059413 | PIXEL OF IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - A pixel of an image sensor includes a polysilicon layer, and an active region which needs to be electrically coupled with the polysilicon layer, wherein the polysilicon layer extends over a portion of the active region, such that the polysilicon layer and the active region are partially overlapped, and the polysilicon layer and the active region are coupled through a buried contact structure. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130065357 | SOLAR CELL CONTACT FORMATION USING LASER ABLATION - The formation of solar cell contacts using a laser is described. A method of fabricating a back-contact solar cell includes forming a poly-crystalline material layer above a single-crystalline substrate. The method also includes forming a dielectric material stack above the poly-crystalline material layer. The method also includes forming, by laser ablation, a plurality of contacts holes in the dielectric material stack, each of the contact holes exposing a portion of the poly-crystalline material layer; and forming conductive contacts in the plurality of contact holes. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130078758 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A SOLAR CELL WITH A TUNNEL DIELECTRIC LAYER - Methods of fabricating solar cells with tunnel dielectric layers are described. Solar cells with tunnel dielectric layers are also described. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130115731 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING RADIATION DETECTOR - Although Cl (chlorine) is no longer supplied in the course of a first process in which a detecting layer formed by a polycrystalline film or a polycrystalline lamination film by vapor deposition or sublimation is formed, an additional source (e.g., HCl of Cl-containing gas) other than a source is supplied at the start or in the course of the first process. Thus, the detecting layer as the polycrystalline film or the polycrystalline lamination film of CdTe, ZnTe, or CdZnTe can be doped with Cl uniformly in a thickness direction from the start until the end of the first process in film formation. As a result, uniform crystal particles and uniform detection characteristics can be achieved. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130171769 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF COMPOSITE POLY-SILICON SUBSTRATE OF SOLAR CELL - A manufacturing method of a composite poly-silicon substrate of solar cells includes the following steps: providing a first substrate layer having a purity ranging from 2N to 3N; and forming a second substrate layer on the first substrate layer, where the purity of the second substrate layer ranges from 6N to 9N. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130237007 | TRENCH PROCESS AND STRUCTURE FOR BACKSIDE CONTACT SOLAR CELLS WITH POLYSILICON DOPED REGIONS - A solar cell includes polysilicon P-type and N-type doped regions on a backside of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. An interrupted trench structure separates the P-type doped region from the N-type doped region in some locations but allows the P-type doped region and the N-type doped region to touch in other locations. Each of the P-type and N-type doped regions may be formed over a thin dielectric layer. Among other advantages, the resulting solar cell structure allows for increased efficiency while having a relatively low reverse breakdown voltage. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20140080251 | HYBRID POLYSILICON HETEROJUNCTION BACK CONTACT CELL - A method for manufacturing high efficiency solar cells is disclosed. The method comprises providing a thin dielectric layer and a doped polysilicon layer on the back side of a silicon substrate. Subsequently, a high quality oxide layer and a wide band gap doped semiconductor layer can both be formed on the back and front sides of the silicon substrate. A metallization process to plate metal fingers onto the doped polysilicon layer through contact openings can then be performed. The plated metal fingers can form a first metal gridline. A second metal gridline can be formed by directly plating metal to an emitter region on the back side of the silicon substrate, eliminating the need for contact openings for the second metal gridline. Among the advantages, the method for manufacture provides decreased thermal processes, decreased etching steps, increased efficiency and a simplified procedure for the manufacture of high efficiency solar cells. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140099751 | METHOD FOR FORMING DOPING REGION AND METHOD FOR FORMING MOS - The present invention provides a method of forming a doping region. A substrate is provided, and a poly-silicon layer is formed on the substrate. A silicon oxide layer is formed on the poly-silicon layer. An implant process is performed to form a doping region in the poly-silicon layer. The present invention further provides a method for forming a MOS. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140127852 | LOW VACUUM FABRICATION OF MICROCRYSTALLINE SOLAR CELLS - A device and method for forming a photovoltaic device include forming a photovoltaic stack of layers on a transparent substrate wherein at least one layer of the photovoltaic stack of layers includes a microcrystalline layer. The microcrystalline layer is formed by purging a vacuum chamber with a gettering gas to remove contaminant species from the chamber prior to forming the microcrystalline layer. The microcrystalline layer is deposited at a vacuum base pressure of greater than about 10 | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140134787 | SOLAR CELL CONTACT FORMATION USING LASER ABLATION - The formation of solar cell contacts using a laser is described. A method of fabricating a back-contact solar cell includes forming a poly-crystalline material layer above a single-crystalline substrate. The method also includes forming a dielectric material stack above the poly-crystalline material layer. The method also includes forming, by laser ablation, a plurality of contacts holes in the dielectric material stack, each of the contact holes exposing a portion of the poly-crystalline material layer; and forming conductive contacts in the plurality of contact holes. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140134788 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A SOLAR CELL WITH A TUNNEL DIELECTRIC LAYER - Method of fabricating solar cells with tunnel dielectric layers are described. Solar cells with tunnel dielectric layers are also described. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140141563 | BACK CONTACT TO FILM SILICON ON METAL FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - Systems and Methods for back contact to film silicon on metal for photovoltaic cells are provided. In one embodiment, a method for creating a conductive pathway in a photovoltaic cell comprises: obtaining a layered photovoltaic device comprising: a metal substrate with a crystal orientation; a crystal semiconductor layer with the crystal orientation; and a heteroepitaxially grown buffer layer positioned between the substrate and the crystal semiconductor layer; and forming one or more conductive pathways between the crystal semiconductor layer and the metal substrate, the pathways being through at least a portion of the buffer layer. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140179056 | LASER-ABSORBING SEED LAYER FOR SOLAR CELL CONDUCTIVE CONTACT - Laser-absorbing seed layers for solar cell conductive contacts and methods of forming solar cell conductive contacts are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming a metal seed paste above a substrate. The metal seed paste includes a laser-absorbing species. The metal seed paste is irradiated with a laser to form a metal seed layer. The irradiating includes exciting the laser-absorbing species. A conductive contact for the solar cell is then formed from the metal seed layer. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140213016 | IN SITU SILICON SURFACE PRE-CLEAN FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PASSIVATION OF SILICON SOLAR CELLS - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods for fabricating photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to methods for in-situ cleaning of a solar cell substrates. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a solar cell device is provided. The method comprises exposing a single or poly crystalline silicon substrate to a wet clean process to clean the surfaces of the crystalline substrate, loading the crystalline silicon substrate into a processing system having a vacuum environment, exposing at least one surface of the crystalline silicon substrate to an in-situ cleaning process in the vacuum environment of the processing system, and forming one or more passivation layers on at least one surface of the crystalline silicon substrate in the processing system. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140220730 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF - In a thin film photoelectric conversion device fabricated by addition of a catalyst element with the use of a solid phase growth method, defects such as a short circuit or leakage of current are suppressed. A catalyst material which promotes crystallization of silicon is selectively added to a second silicon semiconductor layer formed over a first silicon semiconductor layer having one conductivity type, the second silicon semiconductor layer is partly crystallized by a heat treatment, a third silicon semiconductor layer having a conductivity type opposite to the one conductivity type is stacked, and element isolation is performed at a region in the second silicon semiconductor layer to which a catalyst material is not added, so that a left catalyst material is prevented from being diffused again, and defects such as a short circuit or leakage of current are suppressed. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140248739 | HEATING A FURNACE FOR THE GROWTH OF SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL - A multi-ingot furnace for the growth of crystalline semiconductor material has one or more heating devices for heating a hot zone in which crucibles containing semiconductor material are received. At least one of the heating devices is arranged to apply a predetermined differential heat flux profile across a horizontal cross-section of the semiconductor material in one or more of the crucibles, the predetermined differential heat flux profile being selected in dependence the position of the one or more crucibles in an array. In this manner, the heating device can at least partially compensate for differences in the temperature across the semiconductor material that arises from its geometric position in the furnace. This reduces the possibility of defects such as dislocations during the growth of a crystalline semiconductor material. Associated methods are also disclosed. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20160204288 | HYBRID EMITTER ALL BACK CONTACT SOLAR CELL | 07-14-2016 |
