Abstract: Systems and methods for producing nanoscale textured low reflectivity surfaces may be utilized to fabricate solar cells. A substrate may be patterned with a resist prior to an etching process that produces a nanoscale texture on the surface of the substrate. Additionally, the substrate may be subjected to a dopant diffusion process. Prior to dopant diffusion, the substrate may be optionally subjected to liquid phase deposition to deposit a material that allows for patterned doping. The order of the nanoscale texture etching and dopant diffusion may be modified as desired to produce post-nano emitters or pre-nano emitters.

Abstract: A method for an improved doping process allows for improved control of doping concentrations on a substrate. The method may comprise printing a polymeric material on a substrate in a desired pattern; and depositing a barrier layer on the substrate with a liquid phase deposition process, wherein a pattern of the barrier layer is defined by the polymeric material. The method further comprises removing the polymeric material, and doping the substrate. The barrier layer substantially prevents or reduces doping of the substrate to allow patterned doping regions to be formed on the substrate. The method can be repeated to allow additional doping regions to be formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A deposition process for coating a substrate with films of varying thickness on a substrate can be achieve. The thickness of the film deposition can be controlled by the separation between the substrate and a curtain. Different separation distances between the substrate and curtain in the same chemical bath will result in different film thicknesses depositing on the substrate.

Abstract: A deposition process for coating a substrate with films of a different thickness on front and rear surface of a substrate can be achieve in one growth. The thickness of the film deposition can be controlled by the separation between the substrates. Different separation distances between the substrates in the same chemical bath will result in different film thicknesses on the substrate. Substrates may be arranged to have different separation distances between front and back surfaces, a V-shaped arrangement, or placed next to a curtain with varying separation distances between a substrate and the curtain.

Abstract: A nanoparticle coated with a semiconducting material and a method for making the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises making a semiconductor coated nanoparticle comprising a layer of at least one semiconducting material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a nanoparticle, comprising: (A) dispersing the nanoparticle under suitable conditions to provide a dispersed nanoparticle; and (B) depositing at least one semiconducting material under suitable conditions onto at least one surface of the dispersed nanoparticle to produce the semiconductor coated nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle comprises a fullerene. Further embodiments include the semiconducting material comprising CdS or CdSe.

Abstract: A deposition process for coating a substrate with films of a different thickness on front and rear surface of a substrate can be achieve in one growth. The thickness of the film deposition can be controlled by the separation between the substrates. Different separation distances between the substrates in the same chemical bath will result in different film thicknesses on the substrate. Substrates may be arranged to have different separation distances between front and back surfaces, a V-shaped arrangement, or placed next to a curtain with varying separation distances between a substrate and the curtain.

Abstract: A film deposited on substrate may originally has a high surface recombination velocity (SRV). In order to suppress the SRV and increase the minority carrier lifetime, the substrate may be treated annealing at a high temperature in gas ambient containing O2 or O2?. The substrate may also be treated annealing at a low or mild temperature in gas ambient containing H2 or H+. The process has been found to improve the passivation effect of silicon oxide thin films on a silicon substrate. Further, the process can be achieved using the same production steps normally applied to the solar cell to create its top and bottom metal contacts without additional heating cycles are required.

Abstract: A rapid liquid phase deposition (LPD) process of coating a substrate provides improved deposition rates. The LPD process may include the following steps: incubation of acids with corresponding oxides, sulfide, or selenide for a predetermined period of time; removing the undissolved oxides, sulfide, or selenide; liquid phase deposition of the oxide, sulfide, or selenide film or coating at an elevated temperature; and removing the substrate from the growth solution. Further, the growth solution can be prepared for re-use by cooling to a desired temperature and adding extra oxides, sulfides, or selenides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coated fullerenes comprising a layer of at least one inorganic material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a fullerene and methods for making. The present invention further relates to composites comprising the coated fullerenes of the present invention and further comprising polymers, ceramics, and/or inorganic oxides. A coated fullerene interconnect device where at least two fullerenes are contacting each other to form a spontaneous interconnect is also disclosed as well as methods of making. In addition, dielectric films comprising the coated fullerenes of the present invention and methods of making are further disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coated fullerenes comprising a layer of at least one inorganic material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a fullerene and methods for making. The present invention further relates to composites comprising the coated fullerenes of the present invention and further comprising polymers, ceramics and/or inorganic oxides. A coated fullerene interconnect device wherein at least two fullerenes are contacting each other to form a spontaneous interconnect is also disclosed as well as methods of making. In addition, dielectric films comprising the coated fullerenes of the present invention and methods of making are further disclosed.