Abstract: A conductive paste for a photovoltaic cell and a method for producing the photovoltaic cell are disclosed. The conductive paste includes a silver powder, glass frit and a sintering inhibitor that suppresses sintering of the silver powder. The sintering inhibitor contains at least one substance selected from aluminum oxide, silicon oxide and silicon carbide. The method includes forming a first anti-reflective layer on a first region of a main surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a second anti-reflection layer on a second region of the main surface which is different from the first region; coating the electrically conductive paste onto the second anti-reflective layer on the second anti-reflection layer; and forming a surface electrode in the second region by reacting the second anti-reflection layer with the electrically conductive paste at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A conductive paste for a photovoltaic cell and a method for producing the photovoltaic cell are disclosed. The conductive paste includes a silver powder, glass frit and a sintering inhibitor that suppresses sintering of the silver powder. The sintering inhibitor contains at least one substance selected from aluminum oxide, silicon oxide and silicon carbide. The method includes forming a first anti-reflective layer on a first region of a main surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a second anti-reflection layer on a second region of the main surface which is different from the first region; coating the electrically conductive paste onto the second anti-reflective layer on the second anti-reflection layer; and forming a surface electrode in the second region by reacting the second anti-reflection layer with the electrically conductive paste at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing ceramic laminates includes forming a ceramic green sheet by applying a ceramic slurry on a carrier film; forming, maintaining a predetermined gap, a plurality of electrically conducting patterns having inclined surfaces at the ends by printing an electrically conducting paste on the main surface of the ceramic green sheet; forming ceramic patterns having inclined surfaces at the ends among the electrically conducting patterns by printing a ceramic paste with a distance of not smaller than 10?m from the electrically conducting patterns; and laminating ceramic green sheets on which are formed the electrically conducting and ceramic patterns.

Abstract: A method of producing ceramic laminates comprising the steps of forming a ceramic green sheet by applying a ceramic slurry onto a carrier film; forming, maintaining a predetermined gap, a plurality of electrically conducting patterns having inclined surfaces at the ends thereof by printing an electrically conducting paste onto the main surface of said ceramic green sheet; forming ceramic patterns having inclined surfaces at the ends thereof among said electrically conducting patterns by printing a ceramic paste maintaining a distance of not smaller than 10 &mgr;m from said electrically conducting patterns; and laminating ceramic green sheets on which are formed said electrically conducting patterns and said ceramic patterns.

Abstract: A wiring board of the present invention is equipped with an insulating board formed of a sintered product of silicon nitride containing a silicon nitride crystal phase, and a metal circuit formed on said insulating board, wherein said sintered product of silicon nitride contains a rare earth element (RE) and magnesium in a total amount of from 4 to 30 mol % calculated as oxides and at a molar ratio (RE2O3/MgO) calculated as oxides of from 0.1 to 15, and has a relative density of not smaller than 90% and a heat conductivity of not smaller than 50 W/m·K. The wiring board is equipped with the insulating board having very excellent heat-radiating property and a large strength, and is very useful as a wiring board for, for example, power modules.

Abstract: A sintered aluminum nitride contains rare earth elements (RE) in amounts of from 3 to 10% by weight in terms of RE.sub.2 O.sub.3, alkaline earth elements (R) in amounts of from 0.3 to 3.0% by weight in terms of RO, and silicon atoms in an amount of from 0.3 to 1.0% by weight in terms of SiO.sub.2, the grain boundaries of AlN crystals being chiefly a YAG type crystalline phase. The sintered product is obtained by firing at a temperature as low as 1700.degree. C. or lower, has a thermal conductivity of not smaller than 60 W/m.cndot.K, loses weight in an amount of not more than 10 mg/cm.sup.2 when it is left to stand in a 4N NaOH aqueous solution maintained at 70.degree. C. for one hour, and exhibits excellent resistance against the alkalis.