Abstract: A method for producing a doping raw-material solution for film formation includes a step of firstly mixing a solute including a halogen-containing organic dopant compound or a dopant halide with a first solvent, but not with other solvents to prepare a dopant precursor solution separately from a film-forming raw material, where an acidic solvent is used as the first solvent. A method for producing a doping raw-material solution for film formation enables stable formation of a high-quality thin film having excellent electric characteristics.

Abstract: In a metal oxide film formation method of the present invention, the following steps are performed. In a solution vessel, a raw-material solution including aluminum as a metallic element is turned into a mist so that a raw-material solution mist is obtained. In a solution vessel provided independently of the solution vessel, a reaction aiding solution including a reaction aiding agent for formation of aluminum oxide is turned into a mist so that an aiding-agent mist is obtained. Then, the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist are fed to a nozzle provided in a reactor vessel via paths. Thereafter, the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist are mixed in the nozzle so that a mixed mist is obtained. Then, the mixed mist is fed onto a back surface of a heated P-type silicon substrate.

Abstract: An atomizing apparatus for film formation, including: a raw-material container configured to accommodate a raw-material solution; a cylindrical member configured to spatially connect inside of the container to an outer unit, and disposed so a lower end of the cylindrical member does not touch a liquid surface of the solution in the container; an ultrasound generator having at least one ultrasound generation source; and a liquid tank where the ultrasound propagates to the raw-material solution through a middle solution. A center line of an ultrasound-emitting surface of the ultrasound generation source is designated u, the source is provided so an intersection P between line u and a plane containing a side wall surface of the cylindrical member and an extension thereof is located below a lower end point B of the cylindrical member. This provides an atomizing apparatus for film formation, enabling high-quality thin film formation with suppressed particle adhesion.

Abstract: An atomizing apparatus for film formation enabling high-quality thin film formation with suppressed particle adhesion, including: a raw-material container accommodating a raw-material solution; a cylindrical member connecting inside the raw-material container to an outer unit, and disposed so a lower end of the cylindrical member does not touch a liquid surface of the raw-material solution in the container; an ultrasound generator having at least one source emitting ultrasound; and a liquid tank where the ultrasound propagates the raw-material solution through a middle solution. The generation source is outside the liquid tank and has a center between a plane extending from an inner side wall of the raw-material container and a plane extending from an outer side wall of the cylindrical member. A center line of an ultrasound-emitting surface of the ultrasound generation source is designated as u, wherein the center line u does not intersect the cylindrical member side wall.

Abstract: An inspection system according to one embodiment includes: a first signal output unit that outputs to an illumination unit a first signal serving as a trigger to start outputting stripe patterns; a second signal output unit that outputs to the illumination unit a second signal serving as a trigger to switch the stripe patterns; an image-data acquisition unit that acquires time-correlation image data by starting superimposition of frames output from an image sensor at a timing based on the first signal; an image generation unit that generates a first time-correlation image and a second time-correlation image based on the time-correlation image data, the first time-correlation image corresponding to a first stripe pattern alone, the second time-correlation image corresponding to a second stripe pattern alone; and an abnormality detection unit that detects, based on the first time-correlation image and the second time-correlation image, an abnormality on the inspection target surface.

Abstract: An inspection system of an embodiment includes: a planar illumination unit that temporally and spatially varies intensities of light in a periodic manner; a time-correlation image generator that generates a time-correlation image with a time-correlation camera or an image capturing system that performs an operation equivalent to that of the time-correlation camera; and a calculation processor that calculates a characteristic from the time-correlation image, the characteristic corresponding to a distribution of normal vectors to an inspection target surface and serving to detect an abnormality based on at least either a difference from a surrounding area or a difference from a reference surface.

Abstract: The energy recovery system includes an inertial fluid container, a low pressure container, a high pressure container, a low pressure valve, and a high pressure valve, a valve flow conduit, and a valve controller. The valve controller switches, in response to a decrease in volume of the fluid chamber, the inertial fluid container between communicating with the low pressure container and the high pressure container, thereby generating inertial forces of the working fluid flowing toward the low pressure container in the inertial fluid container, and causing the working fluid to flow into the high pressure container by the inertial forces. The valve controller sets a switching frequency for the valves to a frequency close to an Nth-order (where N is a natural number) anti-resonance frequency of a flow conduit for the working fluid.

Abstract: An inspection system of an embodiment includes: a planar illumination unit that temporally varies an intensity of light in a periodic manner by spatially moving a stripe pattern of the intensity of light; a time-correlation image generator that generates a time-correlation image with a time-correlation camera or an image capturing system that performs an operation equivalent to that of the time-correlation camera; and a calculation processor that calculates a characteristic from the time-correlation image, the characteristic corresponding to a distribution of normal vectors to an inspection target surface and serving to detect an abnormality based on at least either a difference from a surrounding area or a difference from a reference surface.

Abstract: The energy recovery system includes an inertial fluid container, a low pressure container, a high pressure container, a low pressure valve, and a high pressure valve, a valve flow conduit, and a valve controller. The valve controller switches, in response to a decrease in volume of the fluid chamber, the inertial fluid container between communicating with the low pressure container and the high pressure container, thereby generating inertial forces of the working fluid flowing toward the low pressure container in the inertial fluid container, and causing the working fluid to flow into the high pressure container by the inertial forces. The valve controller sets a switching frequency for the valves to a frequency close to an Nth-order (where N is a natural number) anti-resonance frequency of a flow conduit for the working fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein in a method of forming a metal oxide film, which can provide a high-quality metal oxide film while enhancing production efficiency. The method includes the steps of: turning a raw-material solution having a metallic element into a mist, to obtain a raw-material solution mist; turning a reaction aiding solution into a mist, to obtain an aiding-agent mist; feeding the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist into a mixing vessel, thereby mixing the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist, to obtain a mixed mist; and feeding the mixed mist onto a back surface of a substrate which is heated, to obtain a metal oxide film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein in a method of forming a metal oxide film, which can provide a high-quality metal oxide film while enhancing production efficiency. The method includes the steps of: turning a raw-material solution having a metallic element into a mist, to obtain a raw-material solution mist; turning a reaction aiding solution into a mist, to obtain an aiding-agent mist; feeding the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist into a mixing vessel, thereby mixing the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist, to obtain a mixed mist; and feeding the mixed mist onto a back surface of a substrate which is heated, to obtain a metal oxide film.

Abstract: In a metal oxide film formation method of the present invention, the following steps are performed. In a solution vessel, a raw-material solution including aluminum as a metallic element is turned into a mist so that a raw-material solution mist is obtained. In a solution vessel provided independently of the solution vessel, a reaction aiding solution including a reaction aiding agent for formation of aluminum oxide is turned into a mist so that an aiding-agent mist is obtained. Then, the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist are fed to a nozzle provided in a reactor vessel via paths. Thereafter, the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist are mixed in the nozzle so that a mixed mist is obtained. Then, the mixed mist is fed onto a back surface of a heated P-type silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing solar cell includes the following. A solution containing aluminum elements is misted. The misted solution is sprayed onto the main surface of a p-type silicon substrate in the atmosphere, to thereby form an aluminum oxide film. Then, a solar cell is produced using the p-type silicon substrate including the aluminum oxide film formed thereon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing solar cell includes the following. A solution containing aluminum elements is misted. The misted solution is sprayed onto the main surface of a p-type silicon substrate in the atmosphere, to thereby form an aluminum oxide film. Then, a solar cell is produced using the p-type silicon substrate including the aluminum oxide film formed thereon.

Abstract: In a film formation method, a mist of a solution is sprayed onto a substrate to form a film on the substrate. A film formation is then suspended. The substrate is then exposed to plasma.