Abstract: The invention relates to a structure adapted for the formation of solar cells, comprising the following successive elements, namely: a sheet (1) of textured metal with crystal grains having an average size greater than 50 ?m, said sheet being adapted to form a rear face electrode of the cells; a diffusion barrier layer (2) having a thickness of between 0.2 and 2 ?m, made from an electrically conductive material with crystal grains having an average size greater than 50 ?m; and a doped multicrystalline silicon layer (3) having a thickness of between 30 and 100 ?m, with crystal grains having an average size greater than 50 to 100 ?m, in which the average diffusion length of the carriers is greater than 50 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing thick films of YBa2Cu3O7-y(y=0.08) having a critical current density of the order of 106 A/cm2. The inventive method comprises using an inert carrier gas to send an aerosol, obtained from an aqueous solution of precursors of yttrium nitrate, barium nitrate and copper nitrate (0.11=FY=0.28, 0.46=FBa=0.58, 0.2=FCu=0.37), having a concentration which is essentially equal to the concentration at saturation, to the surface of a heated substrate whereon it undergoes pyrolysis for between 1 and 5 nm at 800° C. and 870° C., followed by oxygen annealing at a temperature which is greater than the pyrolysis temperature by at least 10° C. and between 850° C. and 880° C. for between 1 and 2 hours, and subsequently at 450° C.-550° C. for between 0.5 and 1.5 hours.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for introducing into a chemical vapor deposition chamber precursors of elements to be deposited over a heated substrate. The method comprises the steps of maintaining one or more precursors in liquid form or in solution at a pressure higher than the pressure of the chamber; injecting periodically and under control in the deposition chamber precursor droplets each of the droplets having a controllable volume; volatizing the injected precursor droplets to produce evaporated precursors, and conveying toward the substrate the evaporated precursors at a temperature and pressure of the chamber, whereby the evaporated precursors react to produce the elements deposited onto the substrate.