Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes one or more unit cells between a first electrode and a second electrode, in which a semiconductor junction is formed by sequentially stacking: a first impurity semiconductor layer of one conductivity type; an intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer including an NH group or an NH2 group; and a second impurity semiconductor layer of opposite conductivity type to the first impurity semiconductor layer. In the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of a unit cell on a light incident side, the nitrogen concentration measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry is 5×1018/cm3 or more and 5×1020/cm3 or less and oxygen and carbon concentrations measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry are less than 5×1018/cm3.

Abstract: An object is to provide a single crystal semiconductor layer with extremely favorable characteristics without performing CMP treatment or heat treatment at high temperature. Further, an object is to provide a semiconductor substrate (or an SOI substrate) having the above single crystal semiconductor layer. A first single crystal semiconductor layer is formed by a vapor-phase epitaxial growth method on a surface of a second single crystal semiconductor layer over a substrate; the first single crystal semiconductor layer and a base substrate are bonded to each other with an insulating layer interposed therebetween; and the first single crystal semiconductor layer and the second single crystal semiconductor layer are separated from each other at an interface therebetween so as to provide the first single crystal semiconductor layer over the base substrate with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. Thus, an SOI substrate can be manufactured.

Abstract: An object is to increase conversion efficiency of a photoelectric conversion device without increase in the manufacturing steps. The photoelectric conversion device includes a first semiconductor layer formed using a single crystal semiconductor having one conductivity type which is formed over a supporting substrate, a buffer layer including a single crystal region and an amorphous region, a second semiconductor layer which includes a single crystal region and an amorphous region and is provided over the buffer layer, and a third semiconductor layer having a conductivity type opposite to the one conductivity type, which is provided over the second semiconductor layer. A proportion of the single crystal region is higher than that of the amorphous region on the first semiconductor layer side in the second semiconductor layer, and the proportion of the amorphous region is higher than that of the single crystal region on the third semiconductor layer side.

Abstract: It is object to provide a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate provided with a single-crystal semiconductor layer, even in the case where a substrate having a low allowable temperature limit, such as a glass substrate, is used and to manufacture a high-performance semiconductor device using such an SOI substrate. Light irradiation is performed on a semiconductor layer which is separated from a semiconductor substrate and bonded to a support substrate having an insulating surface, using light having a wavelength of 365 nm or more and 700 nm or less, and a film thickness d (nm) of the semiconductor layer which is irradiated with the light is made to satisfy d=?/2n×m±? (nm), when a light wavelength is ? (nm), a refractive index of the semiconductor layer is n, m is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 (m=1, 2, 3, 4, . . . ), and 0???10 is satisfied.

Abstract: Island-like semiconductor films and markers are formed prior to laser irradiation. Markers are used as positional references so as not to perform laser irradiation all over the semiconductor within a substrate surface, but to perform a minimum crystallization on at least indispensable portion. Since the time required for laser crystallization can be reduced, it is possible to increase the substrate processing speed. By applying the above-described constitution to a conventional SLS method, a means for solving such problem in the conventional SLS method that the substrate processing efficiency is insufficient, is provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device production system using a laser crystallization method is provided which can avoid forming grain boundaries in a channel formation region of a TFT, thereby preventing grain boundaries from lowering the mobility of the TFT greatly, from lowering ON current, and from increasing OFF current. Rectangular or stripe pattern depression and projection portions are formed on an insulating film. A semiconductor film is formed on the insulating film. The semiconductor film is irradiated with continuous wave laser light by running the laser light along the stripe pattern depression and projection portions of the insulating film or along the major or minor axis direction of the rectangle. Although continuous wave laser light is most preferred among laser light, it is also possible to use pulse oscillation laser light in irradiating the semiconductor film.

Abstract: An object of an embodiment of the present invention to be disclosed is to prevent oxygen from being taken in a single crystal semiconductor layer in laser irradiation even when crystallinity of the single crystal semiconductor layer is repaired by irradiation with a laser beam; and to make substantially equal or reduce an oxygen concentration in the semiconductor layer after the laser irradiation comparing before the laser irradiation. A single crystal semiconductor layer which is provided over a base substrate by bonding is irradiated with a laser beam, whereby the crystallinity of the single crystal semiconductor layer is repaired. The laser irradiation is performed under a reducing atmosphere or an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: An insulating film having depressions and projections are formed on a substrate. A semiconductor film is formed on the insulating film. Thus, for crystallization by using laser light, a part where stress concentrates is selectively formed in the semiconductor film. More specifically, stripe or rectangular depressions and projections are provided in the semiconductor film. Then, continuous-wave laser light is irradiated along the stripe depressions and projections formed in the semiconductor film or in a direction of a major axis or minor axis of the rectangle.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a photoelectric conversion device module, wherein an insulating layer and a first electrode are formed over a base substrate; a plurality of single-crystal semiconductor substrates having a first conductivity type including embrittlement layers formed inside are attached; the plurality of single-crystal semiconductor substrates are separated at the embrittlement layers so that a plurality of stacked bodies including the insulating layer, the first electrode and a first single-crystal semiconductor layer is formed; a second single-crystal semiconductor layer is formed over the stacked bodies to form a first photoelectric conversion layer; a second photoelectric conversion layer including a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is formed; a second electrode is formed; and selective etching is conducted to form photoelectric conversion cells which are element-separated, and a connecting electrode is formed to connect the second electrode of one photoelectric conversion cell and the fir

Abstract: To provide a resource-saving photoelectric conversion device with excellent photoelectric conversion characteristics. Thin part of a single crystal semiconductor substrate, typically a single crystal silicon substrate, is detached to structure a photoelectric conversion device using a thin single crystal semiconductor layer, which is the detached thin part of the single crystal semiconductor substrate. The thin part of the single crystal semiconductor substrate is detached by a method in which a substrate is irradiated with ions accelerated by voltage, or a method in which a substrate is irradiated with a laser beam which makes multiphoton absorption occur. A so-called tandem-type photoelectric conversion device is obtained by stacking a unit cell including a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer over the detached thin part of the single crystal semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Forming an insulating film on a surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate, forming a fragile region in the single crystal semiconductor substrate by irradiating the single crystal semiconductor substrate with an ion beam through the insulating film, forming a bonding layer over the insulating film, bonding a supporting substrate to the single crystal semiconductor substrate by interposing the bonding layer between the supporting substrate and the single crystal semiconductor substrate, dividing the single crystal semiconductor substrate at the fragile region to separate the single crystal semiconductor substrate into a single crystal semiconductor layer attached to the supporting substrate, performing first dry etching treatment on a part of the fragile region remaining on the single crystal semiconductor layer, performing second dry etching treatment on a surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer subjected to the first etching treatment, and irradiating the single crystal semiconductor la

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor device by which a high-performance semiconductor element can be formed are provided. A single crystal semiconductor substrate including an embrittlement layer and a base substrate are bonded to each other with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated along the embrittlement layer by heat treatment to fix a single crystal semiconductor layer over the base substrate. Next, a plurality of regions of a monitor substrate are irradiated with laser light under conditions of different energy densities, and carbon concentration distribution and hydrogen concentration distribution in a depth direction of each region of the single crystal semiconductor layer which has been irradiated with the laser light is measured.

Abstract: Continuous wave laser apparatus with enhanced processing efficiency is provided as well as a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the laser apparatus. The laser apparatus has: a laser oscillator; a unit for rotating a process object; a unit for moving the center of the rotation along a straight line; and an optical system for processing laser light that is outputted from the laser oscillator to irradiate with the laser light a certain region within the moving range of the process object. The laser apparatus is characterized in that the certain region is on a line extended from the straight line and that the position at which the certain region overlaps the process object is moved by rotating the process object while moving the center of the rotation along the straight line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device production system using a laser crystallization method is provided which can avoid forming grain boundaries in a channel formation region of a TFT, thereby preventing grain boundaries from lowering the mobility of the TFT greatly, from lowering ON current, and from increasing OFF current. Rectangular or stripe pattern depression and projection portions are formed on an insulating film. A semiconductor film is formed on the insulating film. The semiconductor film is irradiated with continuous wave laser light by running the laser light along the stripe pattern depression and projection portions of the insulating film or along the major or minor axis direction of the rectangle. Although continuous wave laser light is most preferred among laser light, it is also possible to use pulse oscillation laser light in irradiating the semiconductor film.

Abstract: An SOI substrate is manufactured by a method in which a first insulating film is formed over a first substrate over which a plurality of first single crystal semiconductor films is formed; the first insulating film is planarized; heat treatment is performed on a single crystal semiconductor substrate attached to the first insulating film; a second single crystal semiconductor film is formed; a third single crystal semiconductor film is formed using the first single crystal semiconductor films and the second single crystal semiconductor films as seed layers; a fragile layer is formed by introducing ions into the third single crystal semiconductor film; a second insulating film is formed over the third single crystal semiconductor film; heat treatment is performed on a second substrate superposed on the second insulating film; and a part of the third single crystal semiconductor film is fixed to the second substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser oscillator using an electroluminescent material that can enhance directivity of emitted laser light and resistance to a physical impact. The laser oscillator has a first layer including a concave portion, a second layer formed over the first layer to cover the concave portion, and a light emitting element formed over the second layer to overlap the concave portion, wherein the second layer is planarized, an axis of laser light obtained from the light emitting element intersects with a planarized surface of the second layer, the first layer has a curved surface in the concave portion, and a refractive index of the first layer is lower than that of the second layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is manufactured with use of a semiconductor substrate manufacturing apparatus including: a cleaning portion in which a bonding surface of a base substrate, and a bonding surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate are cleaned, wherein the single crystal semiconductor substrate includes an embrittlement region provided in a region at a predetermined depth from its surface; an electromagnetic wave irradiation portion in which the base substrate and the single crystal semiconductor substrate are attached to each other, the single crystal semiconductor substrate is irradiated with an electromagnetic wave, and the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated using the embrittlement region as a separation plane, so that a single crystal semiconductor layer separated from the single crystal semiconductor substrate is fixed to the base substrate; and a heat treatment portion in which the single crystal semiconductor layer fixed to the base substrate is subjected to heat treatm

Abstract: An SOI substrate having a single crystal semiconductor layer the surface of which has high planarity is manufactured. A semiconductor substrate is doped with hydrogen to form a damaged region containing a large amount of hydrogen. After a single crystal semiconductor substrate and a supporting substrate are bonded to each other, the semiconductor substrate is heated to separate the single crystal semiconductor substrate in the damaged region. While a heated high-purity nitrogen gas is sprayed on a separation surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer which is separated from the single crystal semiconductor substrate and irradiation with a microwave is performed from the back side of the supporting substrate, the separation surface is irradiated with a laser beam. The single crystal semiconductor layer is melted by irradiation with the laser beam, so that the surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer is planarized and re-single-crystallization thereof is performed.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is manufactured in which a plurality of single crystal semiconductor layers is fixed to a base substrate having low heat resistance such as a glass substrate with a buffer layer interposed therebetween. A plurality of single crystal semiconductor substrates is prepared, each of which includes a buffer layer and a damaged region which is formed by adding hydrogen ions to each semiconductor substrate and contains a large amount of hydrogen. One or more of these single crystal semiconductor substrates is fixed to a base substrate and irradiated with an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, thereby being divided along the damaged region. Fixture of single crystal semiconductor substrates and electromagnetic wave irradiation are repeated to manufacture a semiconductor substrate where a required number of single crystal semiconductor substrates are fixed onto the base substrate.

Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device having a structure which can realize not only suppression of a punch-through current but also reuse of a silicon wafer used for bonding, in manufacturing a semiconductor device using an SOI technique, and a manufacturing method thereof. A semiconductor film into which an impurity imparting a conductivity type opposite to that of a source region and a drain region is implanted is formed over a substrate, and a single crystal semiconductor film is bonded to the semiconductor film by an SOI technique to form a stacked semiconductor film. A channel formation region is formed using the stacked semiconductor film, thereby suppressing a punch-through current in a semiconductor device.