摘要:
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process for making solar cells. Particularly, embodiments of the invention provide simultaneously co-firing (e.g., thermally processing) metal layers disposed both on a first and a second surface of a solar cell substrate to complete the metallization process in one step. By doing so, both the metal layers formed on the first and the second surfaces of the solar cell substrate are co-fired (e.g., simultaneously thermally processed), thereby eliminating manufacturing complexity, cycle time and cost to produce the solar cell device. Embodiments of the invention may also provide a method and solar cell structure that requires a reduced amount of a metallization paste on a rear surface of the substrate to form a rear surface contact structure and, thus, reduce the cost of the formed solar cell device.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for increasing the throughput of substrate processing systems is provided. A processing chamber configured for attachment to a cluster tool for processing substrates has dual, staggered processing regions. The processing regions are isolated from one another such that a substrate may be processed in each region simultaneously.
摘要:
An electron beam apparatus that includes a vacuum chamber, a large-area cathode disposed in the vacuum chamber, and a first power supply connected to the cathode. The first power supply is configured to apply a negative voltage to the cathode sufficient to cause the cathode to emit electrons toward a substrate disposed in the vacuum chamber. The electron beam apparatus further includes an anode positioned between the large-area cathode and the substrate. The anode is made from aluminum. The electron beam apparatus further includes a second power supply connected to the anode, wherein the second power supply is configured to apply a voltage to the anode that is positive relative to the voltage applied to the cathode.
摘要:
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process for making solar cells. Particularly, embodiments of the invention provide simultaneously co-firing (e.g., thermally processing) metal layers disposed both on a first and a second surface of a solar cell substrate to complete the metallization process in one step. By doing so, both the metal layers formed on the first and the second surfaces of the solar cell substrate are co-fired (e.g., simultaneously thermally processed), thereby eliminating manufacturing complexity, cycle time and cost to produce the solar cell device. Embodiments of the invention may also provide a method and solar cell structure that requires a reduced amount of a metallization paste on a rear surface of the substrate to form a rear surface contact structure and, thus, reduce the cost of the formed solar cell device.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods for performing rear-point-contact processes on substrates, particularly solar cell substrates. The methods generally include disposing a substrate on a substrate support which functions as a mask during deposition of a passivation layer on a back surface of the substrate. A process gas is introduced to an area between the back surface of the substrate and the substrate support in order to deposit the passivation layer on the back surface of the substrate. The deposited passivation layer has openings therethrough in order to facilitate electrical contact of the substrate with a metallization layer subsequently formed over the passivation layer. The passivation layer is formed without requiring a separate patterning and etching process of the passivation layer.
摘要:
An apparatus and methods for depositing amorphous and microcrystalline silicon films during the formation of solar cells are provided. In one embodiment, a method and apparatus is provided for generating and introducing hydrogen radicals directly into a processing region of a processing chamber for reaction with a silicon-containing precursor for film deposition on a substrate. In one embodiment, the hydrogen radicals are generated by a remote plasma source and directly introduced into the processing region via a line of sight path to minimize the loss of energy by the hydrogen radicals prior to reaching the processing region.
摘要:
A front end staging method and apparatus is provided to introduce and remove a set of wafers from a vacuum processing system. The system generally comprises a support platform, one or more wafer cassette turntables disposed on the platform, a wafer handler disposed adjacent the turntables, a wafer center finding device and a filter disposed to control particles in the vicinity of the wafers. The wafer cassette turntables are rotatably mounted to the support in the preferred embodiment. The processing system may also include one or more processing chambers, where each processing chamber defines a plurality of isolated processing regions therein. The wafer center finding device may include an optical sensor system including optimal emitters aligned with optical sensors.
摘要:
The present invention provides a remote plasma source mountable on a process chamber and connectable on one end to a gas inletting system and on the other end to a gas distribution system disposed in a process chamber. Preferably, a conventional microwave generator is utilized to deliver microwaves into a remote chamber to excite a gas passed therethrough into an excited state.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for controlling film deposition using a linear plasma source are described herein. The apparatus include a showerhead having openings therein for flowing a gas therethrough, a conveyor to support one or more substrates thereon disposed adjacent to the showerhead, and a power source for ionizing the gas. The ionized gas can be a source gas used to deposit a material on the substrate. The deposition profile of the material on the substrate can be adjusted, for example, using a gas-shaping device included in the apparatus. Additionally or alternatively, the deposition profile may be adjusted by using an actuatable showerhead. The method includes exposing a substrate to an ionized gas to deposit a film on the substrate, wherein the ionized gas is influenced with a gas-shaping device to uniformly deposit the film on the substrate as the substrate is conveyed proximate to the showerhead.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for forming a silicon-based photovoltaic device. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a pattern inhibitor layer on a back surface of a substrate, wherein the pattern inhibitor layer covers a first portion of the back surface and a second portion of the back surface remains substantially free of the pattern inhibitor layer. The method further includes forming a passivation layer containing aluminum oxide on the second portion of the back surface and maintaining the pattern inhibitor layer substantially free of the passivation layer during a selective atomic layer deposition (S-ALD) process. Additionally, the method includes removing the pattern inhibitor layer from the back surface to reveal the first portion of the back surface and subsequently forming a contact layer on the first portion of the back surface.