Abstract: A method of producing a photovoltaic device which comprises a solar cell substrate forming the bulk of the device with at least one layer deposited thereon defining a surface of the device, said method comprising the step of introducing a functional layer on the substrate, said layer being capable of releasing hydrogen, and activating said layer to achieve hydrogenation of the photovoltaic device. The method makes it possible, in the case of thick film solar cell production, to have the whole manufacturing sequence performed using chemicals applied under atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A silicon polymer material, which has a silicon polymer backbone with chromophore groups attached directly to at least a part of the silicon atoms, the polymer further exhibiting carbosilane bonds. The film forming composition and resulting coating properties can be tailored to suit the specific exposure wavelength and device fabrication and design requirements. By using two different chromophores the refractive index and the absorption co-efficient can be efficiently tuned. By varying the proportion of carbosilane bonds, and a desired Si-content of the anti-reflective coating composition can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of passivating a silicon substrate for use in a photovoltaic device, comprising providing a silicon substrate having a bulk and exhibiting a front surface and a rear surface, and forming by liquid phase application a dielectric layer on at least said rear surface. The dielectric layer formed at the rear surface is capable of acting as a reflector to enhance reflection of light into the bulk of the silicon substrate, and the dielectric layer is capable of releasing hydrogen into the bulk as well as onto a surface of the silicon substrate in order to provide hydrogenation and passivation. The present invention provides an inexpensive, low cost method of improving the electrical and/or optical performance of photovoltaic devices through the application of coating chemicals onto the backside of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method of modifying a silicon substrate which is intended for use in a photovoltaic device, comprising the steps of providing an n-type silicon substrate having a bulk and exhibiting a front surface and a rear surface; and forming by liquid phase application dielectric layers on said front and rear surfaces. The dielectric layer formed at the rear surface is capable of acting as a reflector to enhance reflection of light into the bulk of the silicon substrate, and the dielectric layer formed at the front comprises oxygen, hydrogen and at least one metal or semimetal and is capable of releasing hydrogen into the bulk as well as onto the surfaces of the silicon substrate in order to provide hydrogenation and passivation. The present invention provides a low cost method of improving the electrical or optical performance, or both, of photovoltaic devices: an increase in the efficiency of the current extraction and reduction of recombination occur within the device.

Abstract: A method of passivating a silicon substrate, comprising providing a silicon substrate having a surface, forming a stack of passivating and anti-reflection coating layers on said surface by liquid phase deposition, wherein the passivating and anti-reflection coating layers comprise hydrogenated silicon oxide layers, and providing at least titanium oxide or tantalum oxide capping layer on the stack opposite to the silicon substrate surface. The procedure offers an alternative to the existing ALD or PECVD methods using SiH4 and other gases, enabling the PV manufacturers to apply chemicals rather than work with hazardous gases to produce a series of layers that provide passivation as well as light absorption.

Abstract: Process for producing an organosiloxane polymer and novel organosiloxane polymer compositions. The process according to the invention comprises hydrolyzing tetraalkoxysilane monomers in a hydrolysis step; and polymerising said hydrolyzed monomers in a polymerization step by subjecting them to conditions conducive to polymerisation to form an organosiloxane polymer. The hydrolysis step is conducted in a reaction medium comprising an organic compound with hydroxy groups. The invention allows for the synthesis of siloxane polymer compositions suitable for thin-film applications using a high content of tetra- and trifunctional silixane polymer precursors.

Abstract: A silicon polymer material, which has a silicon polymer backbone with chromophore groups attached directly to at least a part of the silicon atoms, the polymer further exhibiting carbosilane bonds. The film forming composition and resulting coating properties can be tailored to suit the specific exposure wavelength and device fabrication and design requirements. By using two different chromophores the refractive index and the absorption co-efficient can be efficiently tuned. By varying the proportion of carbosilane bonds, and a desired Si-content of the anti-reflective coating composition can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to metal oxide coating materials that can be used as thin film thin film coatings on various substrate surfaces. The invention also concerns a method of making metal oxide material which are stable in aqueous phase and that can be deposited on a substrate by liquid phase deposition, such as spin-on deposition. The new materials can be patterned lithographically or non-lithographically and are applicable for building up various electronic and opto-electronic device structures, such as anti-reflection layers, high-k interlayer and gate oxide structures for ICs, etch stop layer, CMP stop layer, solar cells, OLEDs packaging, optical thin film filters, optical diffractive grating applications and hybrid thin film diffractive grating structures.

Abstract: A silicon polymer material, which has a silicon polymer backbone with chromophore groups attached directly to at least a part of the silicon atoms, the polymer further exhibiting carbosilane bonds. The film forming composition and resulting coating properties can be tailored to suit the specific exposure wavelength and device fabrication and design requirements. By using two different chromophores the refractive index and the absorption co-efficient can be efficiently tuned. By varying the proportion of carbosilane bonds, and a desired Si-content of the anti-reflective coating composition can be obtained.

Abstract: A silicon polymer material, which has a silicon polymer backbone with chromophore groups attached directly to at least a part of the silicon atoms, the polymer further exhibiting carbosilane bonds. The film forming composition and resulting coating properties can be tailored to suit the specific exposure wavelength and device fabrication and design requirements. By using two different chromophores the refractive index and the absorption co-efficient can be efficiently tuned. By varying the proportion of carbosilane bonds, and a desired Si-content of the anti-reflective coating composition can be obtained.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a siloxane polymer having at least one Si—OH group and at least one Si—OR group, where R is condensation stabilizing group optionally having a reactive functional group, wherein the siloxane polymer, when placed into a solvent, has a weight average molecular weight increase of less than or equal to 50% after aging for one week at 40° C. as measured by GPC is provided.

Abstract: Process for producing an organosiloxane polymer and novel organosiloxane polymer compositions. The process according to the invention comprises hydrolyzing tetraalkoxysilane monomers in a hydrolysis step; and polymerising said hydrolyzed monomers in a polymerization step by subjecting them to conditions conducive to polymerisation to form an organosiloxane polymer. The hydrolysis step is conducted in a reaction medium comprising an organic compound with hydroxy groups. The invention allows for the synthesis of siloxane polymer compositions suitable for thin-film applications using a high content of tetra- and trifunctional silixane polymer precursors.

Abstract: Process for producing an organosiloxane polymer and novel organosiloxane polymer compositions. The process according to the invention comprises hydrolyzing tetraalkoxysilane monomers in a hydrolysis step; and polymerizing said hydrolyzed monomers in a polymerization step by subjecting them to conditions conducive to polymerization to form an organosiloxane polymer. The hydrolysis step is conducted in a reaction medium comprising an organic compound with hydroxy groups. The invention allows for the synthesis of siloxane polymer compositions suitable for thin-film applications using a high content of tetra- and trifunctional silixane polymer precursors.

Abstract: A siloxane composition and a method of producing the same. The composition comprises a siloxane prepolymer with a backbone exhibiting a group which is capable of being deprotonated in an aqueous base solution. Further, there are reactive functional groups, which are capable of reacting during thermal or radiation initiated curing. The siloxane is cross-linked during condensation polymerisation to increase molecular weight thereof. The composition can be used in high-resolution negative tone lithographic fabrication processes where a water based developer system is applied in the development step of the lithography process.

Abstract: A silicon polymer material, which has a silicon polymer backbone with chromophore groups attached directly to at least a part of the silicon atoms, the polymer further exhibiting carbosilane bonds. The film forming composition and resulting coating properties can be tailored to suit the specific exposure wavelength and device fabrication and design requirements. By using two different chromophores the refractive index and the absorption co-efficient can be efficiently tuned. By varying the proportion of carbosilane bonds, and a desired Si-content of the anti-reflective coating composition can be obtained.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a siloxane polymer having at least one Si—OH group and at least one Si—OR group, where R is condensation stabilizing group optionally having a reactive functional group, wherein the siloxane polymer, when placed into a solvent, has a weight average molecular weight increase of less than or equal to 50% after aging for one week at 40° C. as measured by GPC is provided.

Abstract: Optical components are flip chip mounted onto a substrate for improved alignment. Each device is fabricated using “build-up” layers above a substrate. Each has an optical confinement region in which optical radiation travels in use, and a bonding surface. The overall depth of the layers above the optical confinement region is closely controlled during fabrication, for instance by the use a “spacer” layer, so that when the devices are subsequently flip chip mounted adjacent one another on a shared substrate by means of their bonding surfaces, they can be passively positioned so that their optical confinement regions abut and optical radiation can be coupled from one to the next in use.

Abstract: Process for producing an organosiloxane polymer and novel organosiloxane polymer compositions. The process according to the invention comprises hydrolyzing tetraalkoxysilane monomers in a hydrolysis step; and polymerising said hydrolyzed monomers in a polymerization step by subjecting them to conditions conducive to polymerisation to form an organosiloxane polymer. The hydrolysis step is conducted in a reaction medium comprising an organic compound with hydroxy groups. The invention allows for the synthesis of siloxane polymer compositions suitable for thin-film applications using a high content of tetra- and trifunctional silixane polymer precursors.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic composition, which has a backbone containing —Si—O— units with chromophore groups attached directly to at least a part of the silicon atoms. The film forming composition and resulting coating properties can be tailored to suit the specific exposure wavelength and device fabrication and design requirements. By using two different chromophores the refractive index and the absorption co-efficient can be efficiently tuned and a desired Si-content of the anti-reflective coating composition can be obtained—a high Si-content will give good mechanical and thermal properties and also the required wet etch and dry etch properties.