Solar cells utilizing pulsed-energy crystallized microcrystalline/polycrystalline silicon
Abstract
A process for producing multi-terminal devices such as solar cells wherein a pulsed high energy source is used to melt and crystallize amorphous silicon deposited on a substrate which is intolerant to high processing temperatures, whereby to amorphous silicon is converted into a microcrystalline/polycrystalline phase. Dopant and hydrogenization can be added during the fabrication process which provides for fabrication of extremely planar, ultra shallow contacts which results in reduction of non-current collecting contact volume. The use of the pulsed energy beams results in the ability to fabricate high efficiency microcrystalline/polycrystalline solar cells on the so-called low-temperature, inexpensive plastic substrates which are intolerant to high processing temperatures.
- Inventors:
-
- Pleasanton, CA
- Beaverton, OR
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870106
- Patent Number(s):
- 5456763
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- solar; cells; utilizing; pulsed-energy; crystallized; microcrystalline; polycrystalline; silicon; process; producing; multi-terminal; devices; pulsed; energy; source; melt; crystallize; amorphous; deposited; substrate; intolerant; processing; temperatures; whereby; converted; phase; dopant; hydrogenization; added; fabrication; provides; extremely; planar; ultra; shallow; contacts; results; reduction; non-current; collecting; contact; volume; beams; ability; fabricate; efficiency; so-called; low-temperature; inexpensive; plastic; substrates; cells utilizing; pulsed energy; energy beam; plastic substrate; amorphous silicon; solar cell; solar cells; energy source; polycrystalline silicon; fabrication process; crystalline silicon; processing temperatures; crystalline phase; plastic substrates; polycrystalline solar; beams result; current collecting; processing temperature; silicon deposited; energy beams; utilizing pulsed; /136/257/438/
Citation Formats
Kaschmitter, James L, and Sigmon, Thomas W. Solar cells utilizing pulsed-energy crystallized microcrystalline/polycrystalline silicon. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Kaschmitter, James L, & Sigmon, Thomas W. Solar cells utilizing pulsed-energy crystallized microcrystalline/polycrystalline silicon. United States.
Kaschmitter, James L, and Sigmon, Thomas W. Sun .
"Solar cells utilizing pulsed-energy crystallized microcrystalline/polycrystalline silicon". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870106.
@article{osti_870106,
title = {Solar cells utilizing pulsed-energy crystallized microcrystalline/polycrystalline silicon},
author = {Kaschmitter, James L and Sigmon, Thomas W},
abstractNote = {A process for producing multi-terminal devices such as solar cells wherein a pulsed high energy source is used to melt and crystallize amorphous silicon deposited on a substrate which is intolerant to high processing temperatures, whereby to amorphous silicon is converted into a microcrystalline/polycrystalline phase. Dopant and hydrogenization can be added during the fabrication process which provides for fabrication of extremely planar, ultra shallow contacts which results in reduction of non-current collecting contact volume. The use of the pulsed energy beams results in the ability to fabricate high efficiency microcrystalline/polycrystalline solar cells on the so-called low-temperature, inexpensive plastic substrates which are intolerant to high processing temperatures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1995},
month = {1}
}