Abstract:
Layer transfer approaches are described to take advantage of large area, thin inorganic foils formed onto a porous release layer. In particular, since the inorganic foils can be formed from ceramics and/or crystalline materials that do not bend a large amount, approaches are described to provide for gradual pulling along an edge to separate the foil from a holding surface along a curved surface designed to not excessively bend the foil such that the foil is not substantially damaged in the transfer process. Apparatuses are described to perform the transfer with a rocking motion or with a rotating cylindrical surface. Furthermore, stabilization of porous release layers can improve the qualities of resulting inorganic foils formed on the release layer. In particular, flame treatments can provide improved release layer properties, and the deposition of an interpenetrating stabilization composition can be deposited using CVD to stabilize a porous layer.
Abstract:
Thin semiconductor foils can be formed using light reactive deposition. These foils can have an average thickness of less than 100 microns. In some embodiments, the semiconductor foils can have a large surface area, such as greater than about 900 square centimeters. The foil can be free standing or releasably held on one surface. The semiconductor foil can comprise elemental silicon, elemental germanium, silicon carbide, doped forms thereof, alloys thereof or mixtures thereof. The foils can be formed using a release layer that can release the foil after its deposition. The foils can be patterned, cut and processed in other ways for the formation of devices. Suitable devices that can be formed form the foils include, for example, photovoltaic modules and display control circuits.
Abstract:
ZMR apparatuses provide for controlled temperature flow through the system to reduce energy consumption while providing for desired crystal growth properties. The apparatus can include a cooling system to specifically remove a desired amount of heat from a melted film to facilitate crystallization. Furthermore, the apparatus can have heated walls to create a background temperature within the chamber that reduces energy use through the reduction or elimination of cooling for the chamber walls. The apparatuses and corresponding methods can be used with inorganic films directly or indirectly associated with a porous release layer that provides thermal insulation with respect to an underlying substrate. If the recrystallized film is removed from the substrate, the substrates can be reused. The methods can be used for large area silicon films with thicknesses from 2 microns to 100 microns, which are suitable for photovoltaic applications as well as electronics applications.
Abstract:
Collections of composite particles comprise inorganic particles and another composition, such as a polymer and/or a coating composition. In some embodiments, the composite particles have small average particle sizes, such as no more than about 10 microns or no more than about 2.5 microns. The composite particles can have selected particle architectures. The inorganic particles can have compositions selected for particular properties. The composite particles can be effective for printing applications, for the formation of optical coatings, and other desirable applications.
Abstract:
Sub-atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition is described with a directed reactant flow and a substrate that moves relative to the flow. Thus, using this CVD configuration a relatively high deposition rate can be achieved while obtaining desired levels of coating uniformity. Deposition approaches are described to place one or more inorganic layers onto a release layer, such as a porous, particulate release layer. In some embodiments, the release layer is formed from a dispersion of submicron particles that are coated onto a substrate. The processes described can be effective for the formation of silicon films that can be separated with the use of a release layer into a silicon foil. The silicon foils can be used for the formation of a range of semiconductor based devices, such as display circuits or solar cells.
Abstract:
Thin semiconductor foils can be formed using light reactive deposition. These foils can have an average thickness of less than 100 microns. In some embodiments, the semiconductor foils can have a large surface area, such as greater than about 900 square centimeters. The foil can be free standing or releasably held on one surface. The semiconductor foil can comprise elemental silicon, elemental germanium, silicon carbide, doped forms thereof, alloys thereof or mixtures thereof. The foils can be formed using a release layer that can release the foil after its deposition. The foils can be patterned, cut and processed in other ways for the formation of devices. Suitable devices that can be formed form the foils include, for example, photovoltaic modules and display control circuits.
Abstract:
Light reactive deposition can be adapted effectively for the deposition of one or more electrochemical cell components. In particular, electrodes, electrolytes, electrical interconnects c be deposited from a reactive flow. In some embodiments, the reactive flow comprises a reactant stream that intersects a light beam to drive a reaction within a light reactive zone to produce product that is deposited on a substrate (422). The approach is extremely versatile for the production of a range of compositions that are useful in electrochemical cells and fuel cell, in particular. The properties of the materials, including the density and porosity can be adjusted based on the deposition properties and any subsequent processing including, for example, heat treatments.
Abstract:
Collections of phosphor particles have achieved improved performance based on improved material properties, such as crystallinity. Display devices can be formed with these improved submicron phosphor particles. Improved processing methods contribute to the improved phosphor particles, which can have high crystallinity and a high degree of particle size uniformity. Dispersions and composites can be effectively formed from the powders of the submicron particle collections.
Abstract:
High rate deposition methods comprise depositing a powder coating from a product flow. The product flow results from a chemical reaction within the flow. Some of the powder coatings consolidate under appropriate conditions into an optical coating. The substrate can have a first optical coating onto which the powder coating is placed. The resulting optical coating following consolidation can have a large index-of-refraction difference with the underlying first optical coating, high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity across the substrate and high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity between coatings formed on different substrates under equivalent conditions. In some embodiments, the deposition can result in a powder coating of at least about 100 nm in no more than about 30 minutes with a substrate having a surface area of at least about 25 square centimeters.
Abstract:
Improvements to chemical reaction systems (100) provide for the production of commercial quantities of chemical products, such as chemical powders. The improved chemical reaction systems (100) can accomodate a large reactant flux for the production of significant amounts of product. Preferred reaction systems (100) are based on laser pyrolysis. Features of the system (100) provide for the production of highly uniform product particles.