Patents by Inventor Axel Herguth

Axel Herguth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11784279
    Abstract: There are provided a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, and a device which may be used to carry out the method, for example in the form of a specially adapted continuous furnace. A silicon substrate to be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts is thereby subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. In that step, hydrogen, for example from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer, is introduced into the silicon substrate, for example within a zone (2) of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then purposively be cooled rapidly in a zone (3) in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then purposively be maintained, for example in a zone (4), within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel Herguth, Svenja Wilking
  • Publication number: 20210057600
    Abstract: There are provided a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, and a device which may be used to carry out the method, for example in the form of a specially adapted continuous furnace. A silicon substrate to be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts is thereby subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. In that step, hydrogen, for example from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer, is introduced into the silicon substrate, for example within a zone (2) of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then purposively be cooled rapidly in a zone (3) in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then purposively be maintained, for example in a zone (4), within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel HERGUTH, Svenja WILKING
  • Patent number: 10892376
    Abstract: According to an example, in a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, a silicon substrate may be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts, which may be subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. Hydrogen from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer may be introduced into the silicon substrate, for example, within a zone of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then be cooled rapidly in a zone in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then be maintained, for example in a zone within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state. At the same time or subsequently, a regeneration may be carried out by generating excess minority charge carriers in the substrate at a temperature of at least 90° C., preferably at least 230° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel Herguth, Svenja Wilking
  • Patent number: 10825945
    Abstract: What is proposed is a method of producing at least two differently heavily doped subzones (3, 5) predominantly doped with a first dopant type in a silicon substrate (1), in particular for a solar cell. The method comprises: covering at least a first subzone (3) of the silicon substrate (1) in which a heavier doping with the first dopant type is to be produced with a doping layer (7) of borosilicate glass, wherein at least a second subzone (5) of the silicon substrate (1) in which a lighter doping with the first dopant type is to be produced is not covered with the doping layer (7), and wherein boron as a dopant of a second dopant type differing from the first dopant type and oppositely polarized with respect to the same is included in the layer (7), and; heating the such prepared silicon substrate (1) to temperatures above 300° C., preferably above 900° C., in a furnace in an atmosphere containing significant quantities of the first dopant type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Sebastian Gloger, Barbara Terheiden, Daniel Sommer, Axel Herguth, Josh Engelhardt
  • Publication number: 20170133538
    Abstract: What is proposed is a method of producing at least two differently heavily doped subzones (3, 5) predominantly doped with a first dopant type in a silicon substrate (1), in particular for a solar cell. The method comprises: covering at least a first subzone (3) of the silicon substrate (1) in which a heavier doping with the first dopant type is to be produced with a doping layer (7) of borosilicate glass, wherein at least a second subzone (5) of the silicon substrate (1) in which a lighter doping with the first dopant type is to be produced is not covered with the doping layer (7), and wherein boron as a dopant of a second dopant type differing from the first dopant type and oppositely polarized with respect to the same is included in the layer (7), and; heating the such prepared silicon substrate (1) to temperatures above 300° C., preferably above 900° C., in a furnace in an atmosphere containing significant quantities of the first dopant type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Sebastian GLOGER, Barbara TERHEIDEN, Daniel SOMMER, Axel HERGUTH, Josh ENGELHARDT
  • Publication number: 20160141445
    Abstract: According to an example, in a method for producing a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency, a silicon substrate may be provided with an emitter layer and electrical contacts, which may be subjected to a stabilisation treatment step. Hydrogen from a hydrogenated silicon nitride layer may be introduced into the silicon substrate, for example, within a zone of maximum temperature. The silicon substrate may then be cooled rapidly in a zone in order to avoid hydrogen effusion. The silicon substrate may then be maintained, for example in a zone within a temperature range of from 230° C. to 450° C. for a period of, for example, at least 10 seconds. The previously introduced hydrogen may thereby assume an advantageous bond state. At the same time or subsequently, a regeneration may be carried out by generating excess minority charge carriers in the substrate at a temperature of at least 90° C., preferably at least 230° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: UNIVERSITÄT KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Axel HERGUTH, Svenja WILKING
  • Patent number: 8263176
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a photovoltaic element with stabilized efficiency is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a boron-doped, oxygen-containing silicon substrate; forming an emitter layer on a surface of the silicon substrate; and a stabilization treatment step. The stabilization treatment step comprises keeping the temperature of the substrate during a treatment time within a selectable temperature range having a lower temperature limit of 50° C., preferably 90° C., more preferably 130° C. and even more preferably 160° C. and an upper temperature limit of 230° C., preferably 210° C., more preferably 190° C. and even more preferably 180° C., and generating excess minority carriers in the silicon substrate during the treatment time, for example, by illuminating the substrate or by applying an external voltage. This method can be used to fabricate a photovoltaic element, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Universität Konstanz
    Inventors: Axel Herguth, Gunnar Schubert, Martin Käs, Giso Hahn, Ihor Melnyk
  • Publication number: 20110162716
    Abstract: A method and device for fabricating a photovoltaic element with stabilized efficiency is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a boron-doped, oxygen-containing silicon substrate; forming an emitter layer on a surface of the silicon substrate; and a stabilization treatment step. The stabilization treatment step comprises keeping the temperature of the substrate during a treatment time within a selectable temperature range having a lower temperature limit of 50° C., preferably 90° C., more preferably 130° C. and even more preferably 160° C. and an upper temperature limit of 230° C., preferably 210° C., more preferably 190° C. and even more preferably 180° C., and generating excess minority carriers in the silicon substrate during the treatment time, for example, by illuminating the substrate or by applying an external voltage. This method can be used to fabricate a photovoltaic element, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Universitat Konstanz
    Inventors: Axel Herguth, Gunnar Schubert, Giso Hahn, Ihor Melnyk, Martin Käs
  • Publication number: 20100243036
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a photovoltaic element with stabilised efficiency is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a boron-doped, oxygen-containing silicon substrate; forming an emitter layer on a surface of the silicon substrate; and a stabilisation treatment step. The stabilisation treatment step comprises keeping the temperature of the substrate during a treatment time within a selectable temperature range having a lower temperature limit of 50° C., preferably 90° C., more preferably 130° C. and even more preferably 160° C. and an upper temperature limit of 230° C., preferably 210° C., more preferably 190° C. and even more preferably 180° C., and generating excess minority carriers in the silicon substrate during the treatment time, for example, by illuminating the substrate or by applying an external voltage. This method can be used to fabricate a photovoltaic element, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Universitat Konstanz
    Inventors: Axel Herguth, Gunnar Schubert, Martin Käs, Giso Hahn, Ihor Melnyk