Abstract:
Methods of fabricating solar cells using a metal-containing thermal and diffusion barrier layer in foil-based metallization approaches, and the resulting solar cells, are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming a plurality of semiconductor regions in or above a substrate. The method also includes forming a metal-containing thermal and diffusion barrier layer above the plurality of semiconductor regions. The method also includes forming a metal seed layer on the metal-containing thermal and diffusion barrier layer. The method also includes forming a metal conductor layer on the metal seed layer. The method also includes laser welding the metal conductor layer to the metal seed layer. The metal-containing thermal and diffusion barrier layer protects the plurality of semiconductor regions during the laser welding.
Abstract:
A photovoltaic device and method for fabricating a photovoltaic device include forming a light-absorbing semiconductor structure on a transmissive substrate including a first doped layer (406) and forming an intrinsic layer (410) on the first doped layer, wherein the intrinsic layer includes an amorphous material. The intrinsic layer is treated (412) with a plasma to form seed sites. A first tunnel junction layer is formed (414) on the intrinsic layer by growing microcrystals from the seed sites.
Abstract:
In order to solve a problem that, in an initial stage of film growth in a plasma CVD method, it is difficult to form a silicon layer which is excellent in crystallinity, provided is a semiconductor device, including: a substrate; a crystalline silicon layer; a titanium oxide layer containing titanium oxide as a main component; and a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the crystalline silicon layer, in which: the titanium oxide layer and the crystalline silicon layer are formed on the substrate in the mentioned order from the substrate side; and the titanium oxide layer and the crystalline silicon layer are formed in contact to each other.
Abstract:
A photovoltaic cell structure is disclosed that includes a buffer/passivation layer at a CdTe/Back contact interface. The buffer/passivation layer is formed from the same material that forms the n-type semiconductor active layer. In one embodiment, the buffer layer and the n-type semiconductor active layer are formed from cadmium sulfide (CdS). A method of forming a photovoltaic cell includes the step of forming the semiconductor active layers and the buffer/passivation layer within the same deposition chamber and using the same material source.
Abstract:
A method for an intrinsic type microcrystalline silicon layer is provided. In one embodiment, the microcrystalline silicon layer is fabricated by providing a substrate into a processing chamber, supplying a gas mixture into the processing chamber, applying a RF power at a first mode in the gas mixture, pulsing the gas mixture into the processing chamber, and applying the RF power at a second mode in the pulsed gas mixture.