Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor material stack having a sodium at an atomic concentration greater than 1×1019/cm3, depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer over the semiconductor material stack, such that sodium atoms diffuse from the semiconductor material stack into the transparent conductive oxide layer, and contacting a physically exposed surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer with a fluid to remove sodium from the transparent conductive oxide layer.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor material stack having a sodium at an atomic concentration greater than 1×1019/cm3, depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer over the semiconductor material stack, such that sodium atoms diffuse from the semiconductor material stack into the transparent conductive oxide layer, and contacting a physically exposed surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer with a fluid to remove sodium from the transparent conductive oxide layer.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor material stack having a sodium at an atomic concentration greater than 1×1019/cm3, depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer over the semiconductor material stack, such that sodium atoms diffuse from the semiconductor material stack into the transparent conductive oxide layer, and contacting a physically exposed surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer with a fluid to remove sodium from the transparent conductive oxide layer.

Abstract: A silicon nanoparticle fluid including a) a set of silicon nanoparticles present in an amount of between about 1 wt % and about 20 wt % of the silicon nanoparticie fluid; b) a set of HMW binder molecules present in an amount of between about 0 wt % and about 10 wt % of the silicon nanoparticle fluid; and c) a set of capping agent molecules, such that at least some capping agent molecules are attached to the set of silicon nanoparticles. Preferably, the silicon nanoparticle fluid is a shear thinning fluid.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic cell with a locally diffused rear side, comprising steps of: (a) providing a doped silicon substrate, the substrate comprising a front, sunward facing, surface and a rear surface; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (c) depositing a boron-containing doping paste on the rear surface in a pattern, the boron-containing paste comprising a boron compound and a solvent; (d) depositing a phosphorus-containing doping paste on the rear surface in a pattern, the phosphorus-containing doping paste comprising a phosphorus compound and a solvent; (e) heating the silicon substrate in an ambient to a first temperature and for a first time period in order to locally diffuse boron and phosphorus into the rear surface of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interdigitated back contact solar cell, comprising steps of: (a) providing a doped silicon substrate; (b) doping the rear surface of the substrate homogeneously with boron in a blanket pattern, thereby forming a p+ region on the rear surface of the silicon substrate; (c) forming a silicon dioxide layer on the front and rear surface; (d) depositing a phosphorus-containing doping paste on the rear surface in a second pattern; (e) heating the silicon substrate to locally diffuse phosphorus into the rear surface of the silicon substrate, thereby forming an n+ region on the rear surface of the silicon substrate through the second pattern, wherein the p+ region and the n+ region on the rear surface collectively form an interdigitated pattern; and (f) removing the second silicon dioxide layer from the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interdigitated back contact solar cell, comprising steps of: (a) providing a doped silicon substrate; (b) doping the rear surface of the substrate homogeneously with boron in a blanket pattern, thereby forming a p+ region on the rear surface of the silicon substrate; (c) forming a silicon dioxide layer on the front and rear surface; (d) depositing a phosphorus-containing doping paste on the rear surface in a second pattern; (e) heating the silicon substrate to locally diffuse phosphorus into the rear surface of the silicon substrate, thereby forming an n+ region on the rear surface of the silicon substrate through the second pattern, wherein the p+ region and the n+ region on the rear surface collectively form an interdigitated pattern; and (f) removing the second silicon dioxide layer from the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interdigitated back contact solar cell. comprising the steps of: (a) providing a silicon substrate doped with a first dopant; (b) doping the rear surface of the silicon substrate with a second dopant in a first pattern; (c) forming a silicon dioxide layer on the rear surface; (d) depositing a silicon-containing paste comprising silicon-containing particles on the silicon dioxide layer in a second pattern; (e) exposing the substrate to a diffusion ambient, wherein the diffusion ambient comprises a third dopant and wherein the third dopant is a counter dopant to the second dopant; (f) heating the substrate in a drive-in ambient; and (g) removing the silicon dioxide layer and the doped silicate glass layer from the silicon substrate, wherein a region doped with the second dopant and a region doped with the third dopant collectively form an interdigitated pattern on the rear surface of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interdigitated back contact solar cell, comprising steps of: (a) providing a doped silicon substrate; (b) forming a first silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (c) depositing a boron-containing doping paste on the first silicon dioxide layer of the rear surface in a first pattern; (d) heating the silicon substrate; (e) removing the first silicon dioxide layer; (f) forming a second silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (g) depositing a phosphorus-containing doping paste on the second dioxide layer of the rear surface in a second pattern; (h) heating the silicon substrate; and (i) removing the second silicon dioxide layer from the silicon substrate, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern collectively form an interdigitated pattern.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interdigitated back contact solar cell, comprising steps of: (a) providing a doped silicon substrate; (b) forming a first silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (c) depositing a boron-containing doping paste on the first silicon dioxide layer of the rear surface in a first pattern; (d) heating the silicon substrate; (e) removing the first silicon dioxide layer; (f) forming a second silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (g) depositing a phosphorus-containing doping paste on the second dioxide layer of the rear surface in a second pattern; (h) heating the silicon substrate; and (i) removing the second silicon dioxide layer from the silicon substrate, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern collectively form an interdigitated pattern.

Abstract: A method of making a solar cell may include depositing in a first pattern a first ink comprising a first dopant on a back surface of a substrate that is doped with a second dopant being of the same type as the first dopant; then, depositing a second ink comprising a set of undoped semiconductor nanoparticles over the first ink on the back surface of the substrate in a second pattern matching the first pattern; then, heating the semiconductor substrate so that the first dopant diffuses into the substrate and thereby, forms a third pattern of localized doped regions; then, exposing the substrate to a doping ambient comprising a third dopant being of the opposite type to the second dopant, thereby forming a doped semiconductor layer on the front surface and a portion of the back surface not covered by the second ink, and then, removing the deposited ink.

Abstract: A solar cell, comprising: a doped silicon substrate, the silicon substrate comprising a front surface and a rear surface; a front phosphorous diffusion layer formed on the front surface; a front anti-reflective layer formed on the front phosphorous diffusion layer; a front metal electrode on the front surface in ohmic contact with the front phosphorous diffusion layer through the front anti-reflective layer; a rear passivation layer formed on the rear surface; a rear metal electrode in a pattern on the rear surface passing through the rear passivation layer; and a rear p+ diffusion area on the rear surface between the rear passivation layer and a boron-doped region of the silicon substrate, the rear p+ diffusion area surrounding the rear metal electrode.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic cell with a locally diffused rear side, comprising steps of: (a) providing a doped silicon substrate, the substrate comprising a front, sunward facing, surface and a rear surface; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on the front surface and the rear surface; (c) depositing a boron-containing doping paste on the rear surface in a pattern, the boron-containing paste comprising a boron compound and a solvent; (d) depositing a phosphorus-containing doping paste on the rear surface in a pattern, the phosphorus-containing doping paste comprising a phosphorus compound and a solvent; (e) heating the silicon substrate in an ambient to a first temperature and for a first time period in order to locally diffuse boron and phosphorus into the rear surface of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a multi-doped junction on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing the substrate doped with boron atoms, the substrate comprising a front substrate surface. The method further includes depositing an ink on the front substrate surface in a ink pattern, the ink comprising a set of silicon-containing particles and a set of solvents. The method also includes heating the substrate in a baking ambient to a first temperature and for a first time period in order to create a densified film ink pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming multi-doped junctions, which utilize a nanoparticle ink to form an ink pattern on a surface of a substrate. From the ink pattern, a densified film ink pattern can be formed. The disclosed methods may allow in situ controlling of dopant diffusion profiles.

Abstract: A method of forming an ohmic contact on a substrate is described. The method includes depositing a set of silicon particles on the substrate surface. The method also includes heating the substrate in a baking ambient to a baking temperature and for a baking time period in order to create a densified film ink pattern. The method further includes exposing the substrate to a dopant source in a diffusion furnace with a deposition ambient, the deposition ambient comprising POCl3, a carrier N2 gas, a main N2 gas, and a reactive O2 gas at a deposition temperature and for a deposition time period, wherein a PSG layer is formed on the substrate surface. The method also includes heating the substrate in a drive-in ambient to a drive-in temperature and for a drive-in time period; and depositing a silicon nitride layer. The method further includes depositing a set of metal contacts on the set of silicon particles; and heating the substrate to a firing temperature and for a firing time period.

Abstract: A method for forming a passivated densified nanoparticle thin film on a substrate in a chamber is disclosed. The method includes depositing a nanoparticle ink on a first region on the substrate, the nanoparticle ink including a set of Group IV semiconductor particles and a solvent. The method also includes heating the nanoparticle ink to a first temperature between about 30° C. and about 400° C., and for a first time period between about 1 minute and about 60 minutes, wherein the solvent is substantially removed, and a porous compact is formed. The method further includes flowing an oxidizer gas into the chamber; and heating the porous compact to a second temperature between about 600° C. and about 1000° C., and for a second time period of between about 5 seconds and about 1 hour; wherein the passivated densified nanoparticle thin film is formed.

Abstract: A method of forming a multi-doped junction on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing the substrate doped with boron atoms, the substrate comprising a front substrate surface, and depositing an ink on the front substrate surface in an ink pattern, the ink comprising a set of nanoparticles and a set of solvents. The method further includes heating the substrate in a baking ambient to a first temperature of between about 200° C. and about 800° C. and for a first time period of between about 3 minutes and about 20 minutes in order to create a densified film ink pattern. The method also includes exposing the substrate to a dopant source in a diffusion furnace with a deposition ambient, the deposition ambient comprising POCl3, a carrier N2 gas, a main N2 gas, and a reactive O2 gas, wherein a ratio of the carrier N2 gas to the reactive O2 gas is between about 1:1 to about 1.5:1, at a second temperature of between about 700° C. and about 1000° C.

Abstract: A method of forming a multi-doped junction is disclosed. The method includes providing a first substrate and a second substrate. The method also includes depositing a first ink on a first surface of each of the first substrate and the second substrate, the first ink containing a first set of nanoparticles and a first set of solvents, the first set of nanoparticles containing a first concentration of a first dopant. The method further includes depositing a second ink on a second surface of each of the first substrate and the second substrate, the second ink containing a second set of nanoparticles and a second set of solvents, the second set of nanoparticles containing a second concentration of a second dopant. The method also includes placing the first substrate and the second substrate in a back to back configuration; and heating the first substrate and the second substrate in a first drive-in ambient to a first temperature and for a first time period.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming multi-doped junctions, which utilize a nanoparticle ink to form an ink pattern on a surface of a substrate. From the ink pattern, a densified film ink pattern can be formed. The disclosed methods may allow in situ controlling of dopant diffusion profiles.