Patents Assigned to PLANT PV, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10233338
    Abstract: Intercalation pastes for use with semiconductor devices are disclosed. The pastes contain precious metal particles, intercalating particles, and an organic vehicle and can be used to improve the material properties of metal particle layers. Specific formulations have been developed to be screen-printed directly onto a dried metal particle layer and fired to make a fired multilayer stack. The fired multilayer stack can be tailored to create a solderable surface, high mechanical strength, and low contact resistance. In some embodiments, the fired multilayer stack can etch through a dielectric layer to improve adhesion to a substrate. Such pastes can be used to increase the efficiency of silicon solar cells, specifically multi- and mono-crystalline silicon back-surface field (BSF), and passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) photovoltaic cells. Other applications include integrated circuits and more broadly, electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: PLANT PV, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Hardin, Erik Sauar, Dhea Suseno, Jesse J. Hinricher, Jennifer Huang, Tom Yu-Tang Lin, Stephen T. Connor, Daniel J. Hellebusch, Craig H. Peters
  • Patent number: 10000645
    Abstract: A method of forming a fired multilayer stack are described. The method involves the steps of a) applying a wet metal particle layer on at least a portion of a surface of a substrate, b) drying the wet metal particle layer to form a dried metal particle layer, c) applying a wet intercalation layer directly on at least a portion of the dried metal particle layer to form a multilayer stack, d) drying the multilayer stack, and e) co-firing the multilayer stack to form the fired multilayer stack. The intercalating layer may include one or more of low temperature base metal particles, crystalline metal oxide particles, and glass frit particles. The wet metal particle layer may include aluminum, copper, iron, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, titanium, steel or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: PLANT PV, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Hardin, Erik Sauar, Dhea Suseno, Jesse J. Hinricher, Jennifer Huang, Tom Yu-Tang Lin, Stephen T. Connor, Daniel J. Hellebusch, Craig H. Peters
  • Patent number: 9741878
    Abstract: Intercalation pastes for use with semiconductor devices are disclosed. The pastes contain precious metal particles, intercalating particles, and an organic vehicle and can be used to improve the material properties of metal particle layers. Specific formulations have been developed to be screen-printed directly onto a dried metal particle layer and fired to make a fired multilayer stack. The fired multilayer stack can be tailored to create a solderable surface, high mechanical strength, and low contact resistance. In some embodiments, the fired multilayer stack can etch through a dielectric layer to improve adhesion to a substrate. Such pastes can be used to increase the efficiency of silicon solar cells, specifically multi- and mono-crystalline silicon back-surface field (BSF), and passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) photovoltaic cells. Other applications include integrated circuits and more broadly, electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PLANT PV, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Hardin, Erik Sauar, Dhea Suseno, Jesse J. Hinricher, Jennifer Huang, Tom Yu-Tang Lin, Stephen T. Connor, Daniel J. Hellebusch, Craig H. Peters
  • Patent number: 9698283
    Abstract: Materials and methods for fabrication of rear tabbing, front busbar, and fine grid line layers for silicon based photovoltaic cells are disclosed. Materials include conductive metallization pastes that contain core-shell nickel based particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PLANT PV, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Hardin, Stephen T. Connor, James Randy Groves, Craig H. Peters
  • Patent number: 9331216
    Abstract: Materials and methods for fabrication of rear tabbing, front busbar, and fine grid line layers for silicon based photovoltaic cells are disclosed. Materials include conductive metallization pastes that contain core-shell nickel based particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: PLANT PV, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Hardin, Stephen T. Connor, James Randy Groves, Craig H. Peters
  • Patent number: 9070811
    Abstract: Multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cells and methods for fabrication of same are disclosed herein. A multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cell includes a first photovoltaic sub-cell comprising silicon, a tunnel junction, and a multi-crystalline second photovoltaic sub-cell. A plurality of the multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cells can be interconnected to form low cost, high throughput flat panel, low light concentration, and/or medium light concentration photovoltaic modules or devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: PLANT PV, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E Hardin, Stephen T Connor, James R Groves, Craig H Peters
  • Publication number: 20130192656
    Abstract: Multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cells and methods for fabrication of same are disclosed herein. A multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cell includes a first photovoltaic sub-cell comprising silicon, a tunnel junction, and a multi-crystalline second photovoltaic sub-cell. A plurality of the multi-crystalline group II-VI solar cells can be interconnected to form low cost, high throughput flat panel, low light concentration, and/or medium light concentration photovoltaic modules or devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: PLANT PV, Inc.
    Inventor: PLANT PV, Inc.