Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate such as web crystals. The apparatus includes a chamber and a growth hardware assembly housed within the chamber. A magnetic field system produces a vertical magnetic field within the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for self-doping contacts to silicon devices in which the contact metal is coated with a layer of dopant and subjected to high temperature, thereby alloying the silver with the silicon and simultaneously doping the silicon substrate and forming a low-resistance ohmic contact to it. The silver is coated with a layer of dopant. Once applied, the silver, substrate and dopant are heated to a temperature above the Ag—Si eutectic temperature (but below the melting point of silicon). The silver liquefies more than a eutectic proportion of the silicon substrate. This alloy of silver and silicon is the final contact material, and is composed of eutectic proportions of silicon and silver. Under eutectic proportions there is significantly more silver than silicon in the final contact material, thereby insuring good electrical conductivity of the final contact material.

Abstract: A novel method of etching a plurality of semiconductor wafers is provided which comprises assembling said plurality of wafers in a stack, and subjecting said stack of wafers to dry etching using a relatively high density plasma which is produced at atmospheric pressure. The plasma is focused magnetically and said stack is rotated so as to expose successive edge portions of said wafers to said plasma.

Abstract: A laminated solar cell module comprises a front light transmitting support, a plurality of interconnected solar cells encapsulated by a light-transmitting encapsulant material, and an improved backskin formed of an ionomer/nylon alloy. The improved backskin has a toughness and melting point temperature sufficiently great to avoid any likelihood of it being pierced by any of the components that interconnect the solar cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for creating self-doping contacts to silicon devices in which the contact metal is coated with a layer of dopant and subjected to high temperature, thereby alloying the silver with the silicon and simultaneously doping the silicon substrate and forming a low-resistance ohmic contact to it. A self-doping negative contact may be formed from unalloyed silver which may be applied to the silicon substrate by either sputtering, screen printing a paste or evaporation. The silver is coated with a layer of dopant. Once applied, the silver, substrate and dopant are heated to a temperature above the Ag—Si eutectic temperature (but below the melting point of silicon). The silver liquefies more than a eutectic proportion of the silicon substrate. The temperature is then decreased towards the eutectic temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for creating self-doping contacts to silicon devices in which the contact metal is coated with a layer of dopant and subjected to high temperature, thereby alloying the silver with the silicon and simultaneously doping the silicon substrate and forming a low-resistance ohmic contact to it. A self-doping negative contact may be formed from unalloyed silver which may be applied to the silicon substrate by either sputtering, screen printing a paste or evaporation. The silver is coated with a layer of dopant. Once applied, the silver, substrate and dopant are heated to a temperature above the Ag—Si eutectic temperature (but below the melting point of silicon). The silver liquefies more than a eutectic proportion of the silicon substrate. The temperature is then decreased towards the eutectic temperature.

Abstract: A process for dendritic web growth is described. The process includes providing a melt, growing a dendritic web crystal from the melt, replenishing the melt during the step of growing the dendritic web crystal, and applying a magnetic field to the melt during the step of growing the dendritic web crystal. An apparatus for stabilizing dendritic web growth is also described. The apparatus includes a crucible including a feed compartment for receiving pellets to facilitate melt replenishment and a growth compartment designed to hold a melt for dendritic web growth. The apparatus further includes a magnetic field generator configured to provide a magnetic field during dendritic web growth.

Abstract: Silicon nanocrystals with chemically accessible surfaces are produced in solution in high yield. Silicon tetrahalide such as silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) can be reduced in organic solvents, such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane (glyme), with soluble reducing agents, such as sodium naphthalenide, to give halide-terminated (e.g., chloride-terminated) silicon nanocrystals, which can then be easily functionalized with alkyl lithium, Grignard or other reagents to give easily processed silicon nanocrystals with an air and moisture stable surface. The synthesis can be used to prepare alkyl-terminated nanocrystals at ambient temperature and pressure in high yield. The two-step process allows a wide range of surface functionality.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell module includes the use of low cost polymeric materials with improved mechanical properties. A transparent encapsulant layer is placed adjacent a rear surface of a front support layer. Interconnected solar cells are positioned adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer to form a solar cell assembly. A backskin layer is placed adjacent a rear surface of the solar cell assembly. At least one of the transparent encapsulant layer and the backskin layer are predisposed to electron beam radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate such as web crystals. The apparatus includes a chamber and a growth hardware assembly housed within the chamber. A magnetic field system produces a vertical magnetic field within the chamber.

Abstract: A decal for use in forming a solar cell comprises an antireflective precursor material and a patterned electrically conductive material. The antireflective precursor material and the patterned electrically conductive material are disposed over a base material. The antireflective precursor material can be one or more layers of paste which form an antireflective coating upon being fired. A cover layer can be disposed over the antireflective precursor material and the electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A process for dendritic web growth is described. The process includes providing a melt, growing a dendritic web crystal from the melt, replenishing the melt during the step of growing the dendritic web crystal, and applying a magnetic field to the melt during the step of growing the dendritic web crystal. An apparatus for stabilizing dendritic web growth is also described. The apparatus includes a crucible including a feed compartment for receiving pellets to facilitate melt replenishment and a growth compartment designed to hold a melt for dendritic web growth. The apparatus further includes a magnetic field generator configured to provide a magnetic field during dendritic web growth.

Abstract: An ultraviolet light stabilization additive package is used in an encapsulant material that may be used in solar cell modules, laminated glass and a variety of other applications. The ultraviolet light stabilization additive package comprises a first hindered amine light stabilizer and a second hindered amine light stabilizer. The first hindered amine light stabilizer provides thermal oxidative stabilization, and the second hindered amine light stabilizer providing photo-oxidative stabilization.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell module includes the use of low cost polymeric materials with improved mechanical properties. A transparent encapsulant layer is placed adjacent a rear surface of a front support layer. Interconnected solar cells are positioned adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer to form a solar cell assembly. A backskin layer is placed adjacent a rear surface of the solar cell assembly. At least one of the transparent encapsulant layer and the backskin layer are predisposed to electron beam radiation.

Abstract: A decal for use in forming a solar cell comprises an antireflective precursor material and a patterned electrically conductive material. The antireflective precursor material and the patterned electrically conductive material are disposed over a base material. The antireflective precursor material can be one or more layers of paste which form an antireflective coating upon being fired. A cover layer can be disposed over the antireflective precursor material and the electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a solar cell is described. The process includes: (1) providing a base layer, (2) fabricating an emitter layer of p-type conductivity on a same side as the non-illuminated surface of the base layer to provide a strongly doped p-type emitter layer and a p-n junction between the n-type base layer and the p-type emitter layer. The base layer of the present invention has n-type conductivity and is defined by an illuminated surface and a non-illuminated surface. The illuminated surface has light energy impinging thereon when the solar cell is exposed to the light energy and the non-illuminated surface is opposite the illuminated surface.

Abstract: The invention features a method of continuous crystalline growth. A granular source material is introduced into a hopper. A volume of the granular source material exiting the hopper is disposed on a translationally moving belt. The volume of the granular source material forms an angle of repose with the moving belt. The granular source material disposed on the moving belt is continuously fed into a crucible comprising a melt of the granular source material at a rate based on the angle of repose, the speed of the belt, and the size of the opening of the hopper. A crystalline ribbon is continuously grown by solidifying the melt.

Abstract: A decal for use in forming a solar cell comprises an antireflective precursor material and a patterned electrically conductive material. The antireflective precursor material and the patterned electrically conductive material are disposed over a base material. The antireflective precursor material can be one or more layers of paste which form an antireflective coating upon being fired. A cover layer can be disposed over the antireflective precursor material and the electrically conductive material.

Abstract: The invention features a method of controlling the depth of a melt for or crystal growth. According to the method, an input signal is applied through a crucible and a material disposed within the crucible. An output signal generated in response to the input signal is measured. The output signal relates to the depth of the melt. An amount of the source material introduced into the melt is adjusted to maintain the depth of the melt at a substantially constant level using the output signal.

Abstract: An encapsulant material includes a layer of metallocene polyethylene disposed between two layers of an acid copolymer of polyethylene. More specifically, the layer of metallocene polyethylene is disposed adjacent a rear surface of the first layer of the acid copolymer of polyethylene, and a second layer of the acid copolymer of polyethlene is disposed adjacent a rear surface of the layer of metallocene polyethylene. The encapsulant material can be used in solar cell module and laminated glass applications.