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US4539431A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pulse anneal method for solar cell

Assignee: Sera Solar Corp
•
Filing: 1983-06-06
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Granted: 1985-09-03
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Expires: 2003-06-06
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Abstract

Abstract A solar cell including a pulse annealed layer of crystalline, amorphous or polycrystalline semiconductor material of one conductivity type and either a layer of opposite conductivity type or a liquid electrolyte forming a collector junction therewith. A method of improving the characteristics of a solar cell including at least one layer of crystalline, amorphous or polycrystalline semiconductor material which includes the step of pulse annealing said semiconductor material.

Inventors

  • 👤 Garret R. Moddel
  • 👤 James F. Gibbons

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 08:10
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F71/00; H10F71/10; H01; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/20; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/17; H10F71/103; H10F71/128; H10F71/134; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/548; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 74 words
The method of making a solar cell which comprises the steps of depositing on a substrate a first layer of n-type amorphous silicon, followed by a second layer of amorphous silicon containing carbon atoms, followed by a third layer p-type amorphous silicon, and annealing the entire structure by rapidly heating with radiant thermal energy for a short period of time, said carbon atoms minimizing crystallization of said second layer and maintaining high light absorption.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 74 words
The method of making a solar cell which comprises the steps of depositing on a substrate a first layer of n-type amorphous silicon, followed by a second layer of amorphous silicon containing carbon atoms, followed by a third layer p-type amorphous silicon, and annealing the entire structure by rapidly heating with radiant thermal energy for a short period of time, said carbon atoms minimizing crystallization of said second layer and maintaining high light absorption.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 1 in which the first layer is formed by plasma decomposition of SiH 4 with 0.3% PH 3 , the second layer by plasma decomposition of SiH 4 with 10% CH 4 and the third layer by plasma decomposition of SiH 4 and 0.3% B 2 H 6 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 10 words
A solar cell formed by the method of claim 2.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4273950A Cited
US4370175A Cited
US4331485A Cited
US4392011A Cited
US4379020A Cited
US4370510A Cited
US4392297A Cited
US4353160A Cited
US4385198A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-09-02 1989-03-04 1989-09-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-09-02 1993-03-04 1993-09-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-09-02 1997-03-04 1997-09-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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