Patents by Inventor Svenja WILKING

Svenja WILKING has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11784279
    Abstract: There are provided a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, and a device which may be used to carry out the method, for example in the form of a specially adapted continuous furnace. A silicon substrate to be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts is thereby subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. In that step, hydrogen, for example from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer, is introduced into the silicon substrate, for example within a zone (2) of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then purposively be cooled rapidly in a zone (3) in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then purposively be maintained, for example in a zone (4), within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel Herguth, Svenja Wilking
  • Publication number: 20210057600
    Abstract: There are provided a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, and a device which may be used to carry out the method, for example in the form of a specially adapted continuous furnace. A silicon substrate to be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts is thereby subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. In that step, hydrogen, for example from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer, is introduced into the silicon substrate, for example within a zone (2) of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then purposively be cooled rapidly in a zone (3) in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then purposively be maintained, for example in a zone (4), within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel HERGUTH, Svenja WILKING
  • Patent number: 10892376
    Abstract: According to an example, in a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, a silicon substrate may be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts, which may be subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. Hydrogen from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer may be introduced into the silicon substrate, for example, within a zone of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then be cooled rapidly in a zone in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then be maintained, for example in a zone within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state. At the same time or subsequently, a regeneration may be carried out by generating excess minority charge carriers in the substrate at a temperature of at least 90° C., preferably at least 230° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel Herguth, Svenja Wilking
  • Publication number: 20160141445
    Abstract: According to an example, in a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, a silicon substrate may be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts, which may be subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. Hydrogen from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer may be introduced into the silicon substrate, for example, within a zone of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then be cooled rapidly in a zone in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then be maintained, for example in a zone within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state. At the same time or subsequently, a regeneration may be carried out by generating excess minority charge carriers in the substrate at a temperature of at least 90° C., preferably at least 230° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel HERGUTH, Svenja WILKING