Abstract: A process for manufacturing silicon-based nanoparticles by electrochemical etching of a substrate, wherein the substrate is a metallurgical-grade or upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon, the substrate including an impurity content greater than 0.01%.

Abstract: A method for controlling the internal pressure of a photovoltaic module having a front plate, rear plate, photovoltaic cells, electrical interconnection conductors, and peripheral seal, in which the conductors are in pressure contact with the cells, under the effect of a force resulting from a vacuum prevailing inside the module. The method includes: a) gradually reducing the pressure of a gas quantity around the module; b) detecting, during step a), a physical parameter representative of the actual pressing of the interconnection conductors against the cells; and c) determining a value of the internal pressure of the module on the basis of a variation in the physical parameter. The control facility comprises an enclosure for receiving the module inside a gas quantity, the enclosure including elements for: reducing the pressure of this gas quantity, detecting a physical parameter representative of the actual pressing, and determining the internal pressure of the module.

Abstract: A feedstock of semiconductor material is placed in a crucible. A closed sacrificial recipient containing a dopant material is placed in the crucible. The content of the crucible is melted resulting in incorporation of the dopant in the molten material bath. The temperature increase is performed under a reduced pressure.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing silicon-based nanoparticles by electrochemical etching of a substrate, wherein the substrate is a metallurgical-grade or upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon, the substrate including an impurity content greater than 0.01%.

Abstract: A feedstock of semiconductor material is placed in a crucible. A closed sacrificial recipient containing a dopant material is placed in the crucible. The content of the crucible is melted resulting in incorporation of the dopant in the molten material bath. The temperature increase is performed under a reduced pressure.

Abstract: The device for melting and purifying of a silicon feedstock comprises a crucible arranged inside a sealed chamber. A thermal gradient can be applied to the crucible by an arranged heat exchanger and a heating device. The device likewise comprises a device for reducing the pressure inside the chamber to a value lower than 10?2 mbar and a device for stirring the silicon in the crucible. The silicon feedstock successively undergoes degassing and pre-heating to atmospheric temperature, and then melting and low pressure, high temperature purification. Once the low-pressure purification step has been completed, directed crystallization is carried out.

Abstract: A temperature gradient is established in a crystallization crucible by means of a heat source and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a heat exchanger and an adjustable additional heat source. The cooling system is preferably formed by an induction coil cooled by a coolant liquid circulating in the induction coil and by an electrically conductive induction susceptor positioned between the crucible and induction coil. The fabrication process comprises heating the crucible via the top and controlling heat extraction from the crucible downwards by means of the heat exchanger and by means of regulation of the adjustable additional heat source.

Abstract: A temperature gradient is established in a crystallization crucible by means of a heat source and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a heat exchanger and an adjustable additional heat source. The cooling system is preferably formed by an induction coil cooled by a coolant liquid circulating in the induction coil and by an electrically conductive induction susceptor positioned between the crucible and induction coil. The fabrication process comprises heating the crucible via the top and controlling heat extraction from the crucible downwards by means of the heat exchanger and by means of regulation of the adjustable additional heat source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic unit (1A, 1B) including a supporting plate and a photovoltaic component (4A, 4B) that is arranged on the supporting plate and comprises an input connection element (6A, 6B) and an output connection element (8A, 8B). The unit further includes at least one first auxiliary circuit (14A, 14B), which is arranged on the supporting plate and can conduct electric current, and a first and a second connection terminal board (10A, 12A, 10B, 12B).

Abstract: This electrical connection assembly is used for a photovoltaic cell (4) having rear electrical contacts. The assembly comprises at least one spacer-plate (10) of electrically insulating material suitable for having the rear face of the cell bearing against a first side (116) thereof in a position in which the connection terminals (46, 48) of the cell (4) are in register with through orifices (120, 122) in the spacer-plate (10). The assembly also includes at least two ribbons (20) of electrically conductive material arranged on a second side of the spacer-plate (10), opposite from the first side (116), and provided with contact elements (210, 212) suitable for making electrical contact with the connection terminals (46, 48) of the cell (4) through the orifices (120, 122) in the spacer-plate. Electrical contact between the contact elements (210, 212) and the connection terminals (46, 48) is established without soldering, under the effect of a resilient force.

Abstract: Production of photovoltaic grade crystalline silicon is achieved by crystallization of a molten silicon feedstock, the sum of the initial donor doping element and acceptor doping element concentrations whereof is greater than 0.1 ppma, and both the acceptor and donor doping element concentrations whereof are less than 25 ppma. At least a predefined quantity of a doping material having a segregation coefficient of less than 0.1 is added to the feedstock. This addition enables a crystallized silicon to be produced the difference between the donor and acceptor doping profiles whereof is comprised between 0.1 and 5 ppma over at least 50% of the solidified silicon. A silicon presenting a concentration of at least one of the dopants is greater than or equal to 5 ppma and a difference less than or equal to 5 ppma between these two types of dopant is integrated in a photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprising front and back plates each comprising inner and outer faces, a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged side by side between the front and back plates and each comprising an antireflection layer, and a peripheral seal arranged between the front and back plates around the photovoltaic cells. The part of the inner face of the front plate delineated by the seal is coated with a polymer film presenting a refractive index comprised between that of the front plate and that of the antireflection layers of the photovoltaic cells, said film being in contact with the photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: The device for producing a sheet of crystalline material by directional solidification of a material in liquid phase composed of a crucible provided with a bottom, side walls and at least one horizontal outlet slot arranged on a bottom part of a side wall. On its external surface in immediate proximity to the slot, the crucible presents electromagnetic means for creating magnetic repulsion forces on the material in liquid phase, at least at the level of the slot. An alternating current with a frequency comprised between 10 kHz and 300 kHz flows through the electromagnetic means. To foster stirring of the material in liquid phase, a low frequency can be used in addition to the above frequencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a module (1) for generating light or energy, comprising at least one light or energy generator including at least one semiconductor cell (2), the area of which is greater than 0.01 m2, said cell being placed in a sealed enclosure maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, said enclosure having a glass front side (3), a metal or metal alloy rear side (4) optionally coated on one or other of its faces, a peripheral sealing gasket (5), and electrical connectors (6) that are not fastened to said cells (2) or to said front side (3) and rear side (4), said rear side (4) being electrically isolated from said generators, characterized in that said rear side (4) has a metal or metal alloy thickness of less than 1 mm. The invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic modules and to LED or OLED illumination modules.

Abstract: A temperature gradient is established in a crystallization crucible by means of a heat source and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a heat exchanger and an adjustable additional heat source. The cooling system is preferably formed by an induction coil cooled by a coolant liquid circulating in the induction coil and by an electrically conductive induction susceptor positioned between the crucible and induction coil. The fabrication process comprises heating the crucible via the top and controlling heat extraction from the crucible downwards by means of the heat exchanger and by means of regulation of the adjustable additional heat source.

Abstract: The photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged between substrates and connected in series by connecting conductors. An external connector pin of the module comprises a block of insulating material glued to one end of the module. An external connector of the pin is connected to at least one connector electrically connected to the connecting conductor associated with a cell arranged at the end of the module. The contact between the connector and the connecting conductor associated with a cell arranged at the end of the module is achieved by pressure, generated by means of a deformation. The deformation can be achieved either at the free end of the connecting conductor or at the internal end of the connector.

Abstract: The device comprises a crucible (1) having a bottom (2) and side walls (3). The crucible (1) comprises at least one lateral slit (4) arranged horizontally at a bottom part of the side walls (3). The lateral slit (4) presents a width of more than 50 mm and preferably comprised between 100 mm and 500 mm. The height (H) of the slit (4) is comprised between 50 and 1000 micrometers. The crystalline material is output from the crucible via the lateral slit (4) so as to form a crystalline ribbon (R). The method comprises a step of bringing a crystallization seed into contact with the material output via the lateral slit (4) and a horizontal displacement step of the ribbon (R).

Abstract: The bottom of the crucible has much greater thermal transfer properties, parallel to an axis substantially perpendicular to the bottom, than those of the side walls. The bottom and side walls are formed by materials having the same main chemical constituents. The bottom can be transparent to infrared radiation and the side walls opaque to infrared radiation. The bottom can be made of amorphous silica and the side walls of opaque quartz ceramic. The crucible can also be made of graphite. The device can comprise a graphite felt, arranged between the bottom of the crucible and cooling means, and compression means of the graphite felt. It is thus possible to define a temperature gradient comprised between 8° C./cm and 30° C./cm in the liquid phase.

Abstract: The photovoltaic module comprises front and rear plates. An organic seal is arranged between the plates and delineates a tight internal volume, kept at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, wherein the photovoltaic cells are arranged. The seal is an organic seal, for example of thermoplastic nature, for example of the polybutylene family. The production method comprises formation of a negative pressure by suction. The method can comprise sweeping by neutral gases, establishment of the negative pressure and sealing by compression. The method can also comprise partial sealing of the module so as to leave two openings in the seal, sweeping of the internal volume by neutral gases by means of the two openings, establishment of the negative pressure and closing of the openings.

Abstract: The photovoltaic module comprises front and rear plates. An organic seal is arranged between the plates and delineates a tight internal volume, kept at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, wherein the photovoltaic cells are arranged. The seal is an organic seal, for example of thermoplastic nature, for example of the polybutylene family. The production method comprises formation of a negative pressure by suction. The method can comprise sweeping by neutral gases, establishment of the negative pressure and sealing by compression. The method can also comprise partial sealing of the module so as to leave two openings in the seal, sweeping of the internal volume by neutral gases by means of the two openings, establishment of the negative pressure and closing of the openings.