Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for fabricating a compound nitride semiconductor structure. Group-III and nitrogen precursors are flowed into a first processing chamber to deposit a first layer over a substrate with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process. The substrate is transferred from the first processing chamber to a second processing chamber. Group-III and nitrogen precursors are flowed into the second processing chamber to deposit a second layer over the first layer with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process. The first and second group-III precursors have different group-III elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a low cost solar cell using a novel high speed electroplating method and apparatus to form a metal contact structure having selectively formed metal lines using an electrochemical plating process. The apparatus and methods described herein remove the need to perform one or more high temperature screen printing processes to form conductive features on the surface of a solar cell substrate. The resistance of interconnects formed in a solar cell device greatly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. It is thus desirable to form a solar cell device that has a low resistance connection that is reliable and cost effective. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to form a low cost and reliable interconnecting layer using an electrochemical plating process containing a common metal, such as copper.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-layered structure can include annealing a stack, where the annealing can include heating the stack in the presence of an inert gas, and where the stack includes a layer including cadmium and tin.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include an interfacial layer in contact with a semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a low cost flexible solar cell using a novel electroplating method and apparatus to form a metal contact structure. The apparatus and methods described herein remove the need to perform one or more high temperature screen printing processes to form conductive features on the surface of a solar cell substrate. The resistance of interconnects formed in a solar cell device greatly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. Solar cell substrates that may benefit from the invention include flexible substrates may have an active region that contains organic material, single crystal silicon, multi-crystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide, cadmium telluride, cadmium sulfide, copper indium gallium selenide, copper indium selenide, gallilium indium phosphide, as well as heterojunction cells that are used to convert sunlight to electrical power.

Abstract: A copper indium gallium selenide photovoltaic cell can include a substrate having a transparent conductive oxide layer. The copper indium gallium selenide can be deposited using sputtering and vapor transport deposition.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a low cost solar cell using a novel electroplating apparatus and method to form a metal contact structure having metal lines formed using an electrochemical plating process. The apparatus and methods described herein remove the need to perform the often costly processing steps of performing a mask preparation and formation steps, such as screen printing, lithographic steps and inkjet printing steps, to form a contact structure. The resistance of interconnects formed in a solar cell device greatly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. It is thus desirable to form a solar cell device that has a low resistance connection that is reliable and cost effective. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to form a low cost and reliable interconnecting layer using an electrochemical plating process containing a common metal, such as copper.

Abstract: A tandem module photovoltaic cell can include an organic module in parallel with a semiconductor module.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a low cost solar cell using a novel high speed electroplating method and apparatus to form a metal contact structure having selectively formed metal lines using an electrochemical plating process. The apparatus and methods described herein remove the need to perform one or more high temperature screen printing processes to form conductive features on the surface of a solar cell substrate. The resistance of interconnects formed in a solar cell device greatly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. It is thus desirable to form a solar cell device that has a low resistance connection that is reliable and cost effective. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to form a low cost and reliable interconnecting layer using an electrochemical plating process containing a common metal, such as copper.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic device includes depositing a first compound semiconductor layer on a substrate and exposing the device to plasma, the plasma treating the layer.

Abstract: A method of suppressing parasitic particle formation in a metal organic chemical vapor deposition process is described. The method may include providing a substrate to a reaction chamber, and introducing an organometallic precursor, a particle suppression compound and at least a second precursor to the reaction chamber. The second precursor reacts with the organometallic precursor to form a nucleation layer on the substrate. Also, a method of suppressing parasitic particle formation during formation of a III-V nitride layer is described. The method includes introducing a group III metal containing precursor to a reaction chamber. The group III metal precursor may include a halogen. A hydrogen halide gas and a nitrogen containing gas are also introduced to the reaction chamber. The nitrogen containing gas reacts with the group III metal precursor to form the III-V nitride layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include a heterojunction between semiconductor layers.

Abstract: Methods are provided of fabricating compound nitride semiconductor structures. A group-III precursor and a nitrogen precursor are flowed into a processing chamber to deposit a first layer over a surface of a first substrate with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process. A second layer is deposited over a surface of a second substrate with the thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process using the first group-III precursor and the first nitrogen precursor. The first and second substrates are different outer substrates of a plurality of stacked substrates disposed within the processing chamber as a stack so that the first and second layers are deposited on opposite sides of the stack. Deposition of the first layer and deposition of the second layer are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: Processing steps that are useful for forming interconnects in a photovoltaic module are described herein. According to one aspect, a method according to the invention includes processing steps that are similar to those performed in conventional integrated circuit fabrication. For example, the method can include etches to form a conductive step adjacent to the grooves that can be used to form interconnects between cells. According to another aspect the method for forming the conductive step can be self-aligned, such as by positioning a mirror above the module and exposing photoresist from underneath the substrate at an angle one or more times, and etching to expose the conductive step.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include an interfacial layer in contact with a semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Methods are provided of fabricating a nitride semiconductor structure. A group-III precursor and a nitrogen precursor are flowed into a processing chamber to deposit a first layer over one side of the substrate with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process. A second layer is similarly deposited over an opposite side of the substrate using the group-III precursor and the nitrogen precursor. The substrate is cooled after depositing the first and second layers without substantially deforming a shape of the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a low cost solar cell using a novel high speed electroplating method and apparatus to form a metal contact structure having selectively formed metal lines using an electrochemical plating process. The apparatus and methods described herein remove the need to perform one or more high temperature screen printing processes to form conductive features on the surface of a solar cell substrate. The resistance of interconnects formed in a solar cell device greatly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. It is thus desirable to form a solar cell device that has a low resistance connection that is reliable and cost effective. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to form a low cost and reliable interconnecting layer using an electrochemical plating process containing a common metal, such as copper.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a low cost solar cell using a novel high speed electroplating method and apparatus to form a metal contact structure having selectively formed metal lines using an electrochemical plating process. The apparatus and methods described herein remove the need to perform one or more high temperature screen printing processes to form conductive features on the surface of a solar cell substrate. The resistance of interconnects formed in a solar cell device greatly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. It is thus desirable to form a solar cell device that has a low resistance connection that is reliable and cost effective. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to form a low cost and reliable interconnecting layer using an electrochemical plating process containing a common metal, such as copper.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a low cost solar cell using a novel electroplating apparatus and method to form a metal contact structure having metal lines formed using an electrochemical plating process. The apparatus and methods described herein remove the need to perform the often costly processing steps of performing a mask preparation and formation steps, such as screen printing, lithographic steps and inkjet printing steps, to form a contact structure. The resistance of interconnects formed in a solar cell device greatly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. It is thus desirable to form a solar cell device that has a low resistance connection that is reliable and cost effective. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the invention described herein are adapted to form a low cost and reliable interconnecting layer using an electrochemical plating process containing a common metal, such as copper.