Patents by Inventor Guy Brammertz

Guy Brammertz 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: 9231148
    Abstract: A method for chemically cleaning and passivating a chalcogenide layer is provided, wherein the method comprises bringing the chalcogenide layer into contact with an ammonium sulfide containing ambient, such as an ammonium sulfide liquid solution or an ammonium sulfide containing vapor. Further, a method for fabricating photovoltaic cells with a chalcogenide absorber layer is provided, wherein the method comprises: providing a chalcogenide semiconductor layer on a substrate; bringing the chalcogenide semiconductor layer into contact with an ammonium sulfide containing ambient, thereby removing impurities and passivating the chalcogenide semiconductor layer; and afterwards providing a buffer layer on the chalcogenide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU Leuven R&D, Universiteit Hasselt
    Inventors: Marie Buffiere, Marc Meuris, Guy Brammertz
  • Publication number: 20150125987
    Abstract: A method for chemically cleaning and passivating a chalcogenide layer is provided, wherein the method comprises bringing the chalcogenide layer into contact with an ammonium sulfide containing ambient, such as an ammonium sulfide liquid solution or an ammonium sulfide containing vapor. Further, a method for fabricating photovoltaic cells with a chalcogenide absorber layer is provided, wherein the method comprises: providing a chalcogenide semiconductor layer on a substrate; bringing the chalcogenide semiconductor layer into contact with an ammonium sulfide containing ambient, thereby removing impurities and passivating the chalcogenide semiconductor layer; and afterwards providing a buffer layer on the chalcogenide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Marie Buffiere, Marc Meuris, Guy Brammertz
  • Patent number: 8232581
    Abstract: Manufacturing an III-V engineered substrate involves providing a base substrate comprising an upper layer made of a first III-V compound with a <110> or a <111> crystal orientation, forming an intermediate layer comprising at least a buffer layer of a second III-V compound, wherein the intermediate layer is overlying and in contact with the upper layer of the base substrate. Then a pseudomorphic passivation layer made of a group IV semiconductor material is grown so as to be overlying and in contact with the intermediate layer. This can enable an unpinned interface. The substrate surface can be smoother, implying fewer problems from surface stress. It can be used in electronic devices such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), tunneling field effect transistors (TFETs), and optoelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Pourtois, Clement Merckling, Guy Brammertz, Matty Caymax
  • Publication number: 20100327316
    Abstract: Manufacturing an III-V engineered substrate involves providing a base substrate comprising an upper layer made of a first III-V compound with a <110> or a <111> crystal orientation, forming an intermediate layer comprising at least a buffer layer of a second III-V compound, wherein the intermediate layer is overlying and in contact with the upper layer of the base substrate. Then a pseudomorphic passivation layer made of a group IV semiconductor material is grown so as to be overlying and in contact with the intermediate layer. This can enable an unpinned interface. The substrate surface can be smoother, implying fewer problems from surface stress. It can be used in electronic devices such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), tunneling field effect transistors (TFETs), and optoelectronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: IMEC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Pourtois, Clement Merckling, Guy Brammertz, Matty Caymax