Abstract in simplified Chinese:用于将图案赋予至基材上之可流动的抗蚀剂材料之方法需要提供一如此薄之抗蚀剂层,以致在打印机楔入制程期间,于楔子突出部份之间该抗蚀剂绝不会完全填充该基材及打印机的底部表面之间的空间,而在其间到处留下一间隙。一间隙保留于该抗蚀剂及该打印机的延伸表面之间。当被沉积时,如果该抗蚀剂层系稍微比该目标数量更厚,其将刚好于抗蚀剂及工具之间造成一较小的间隙。连续间隙之存在确保没有压力累积在该打印机之下。如此,该等突出部份上之力量系仅只借由该打印机上方之压力所决定,且被很好地控制,导致孔洞尺寸受很好的控制。该间隙防止抗蚀剂被完全汲取出任何一区域,且如此防止任何区域未覆盖抗蚀剂。该打印机可在其与该基材之接触中脉动,反复地变形该等压凹之突出部份。数个脉动比单一下压较佳地清除任何浮渣层,如借由测量用于正常持续时间之正常蚀刻将蚀刻掉基材材料之程度的蚀刻测试比较所得到之结果。
Abstract:
Semi-conductor wafers with thin and thicker regions at controlled locations may be for Photovoltaics. The interior may be less than 180 microns or thinner, to 50 microns, with a thicker portion, at 180 - 250 microns. Thin wafers have higher efficiency. A thicker perimeter provides handling strength. Thicker stripes, landings and islands are for metallization coupling. Wafers may be made directly from a melt upon a template with regions of different heat extraction propensity arranged to correspond to locations of relative thicknesses. Interstitial oxygen is less than 6 x 10 17 atoms/cc, preferably less than 2 x 10 17 , total oxygen less than 8. 75 x 10 17 atoms/cc, preferably less than 5. 25 x 10 17 . Thicker regions form adjacent template regions having relatively higher heat extraction propensity; thinner regions adjacent regions with lesser extraction propensity. Thicker template regions have higher extraction propensity. Functional materials upon the template also have differing extraction propensities.
Abstract:
Methods exploiting a Self Aligned Cell (SAC) architecture for doping purposes, use the architecture to direct the deposition and application of either a dopant or a diffusion retarder. Doping is provided in regions that will become metallization for conducting fingers. Dopant may be treated directly into metallization grooves. Or, diffusion retarder may be provided in non-groove locations, and dopant may be provided over some or all of the entire wafer surface. Dopant and metal automatically go where desired, and in register with each other. The SAC architecture also includes concave surfaces for light absorbing regions of a cell, to reduce reflection of light energy, which regions may also be treated with dopant in the concavities, to result in semiconductor emitter lines. Alternatively, diffusion retarder may be treated into the concavities, leaving upper tips of ridges between the concavities exposed, thereby subject to deeper doping.
Abstract:
Acid etch compositions for etching multicrystalline silicon substrates are disclosed which may include hydrofluoric acid, an oxidizer, an acid diluent, and soluble silicon. The soluble silicon may be hexafluorosilicic acid or ammonium fluorosilicate. Silicon substrates patterned with organic resist may be used with the acid etch compositions for selective silicon patterning for solar cell applications.
Abstract:
A pressure differential is applied across a mold sheet and a semiconductor (e.g. silicon) wafer is formed thereon. Relaxation of the pressure differential allows release of the wafer. The mold sheet may be cooler than the melt. Heat is extracted almost exclusively through the thickness of the forming wafer. The liquid and solid interface is substantially parallel to the mold sheet. The temperature of the solidifying body is substantially uniform across its width, resulting in low stresses and dislocation density and higher crystallographic quality. The mold sheet must allow flow of gas through it. The melt can be introduced to the sheet by: full area contact with the top of a melt; traversing a partial area contact of melt with the mold sheet, whether horizontal or vertical, or in between; and by dipping the mold into a melt. The grain size can be controlled by many means.
Abstract:
A main crucible of molten semiconductor is replenished from a supply crucible maintained such that there are always two phases of solid and liquid semiconductor within the supply crucible. Heat added to melt the solid material results in the solid material changing phase to liquid, but will not result in any significant elevation in temperature of the liquid within the supply crucible. The temperature excursions are advantageously small, being less than that which would cause problems with the formed product. The solid product material acts as a sort of temperature buffer, to maintain the supply liquid temperature automatically and passively at or very near to the phase transition temperature. For silicon, excursions are kept to less than 90° C., and even as small as 50° C. The methods also are useful with germanium. Prior art silicon methods that entirely melt the semiconductor experience excursions exceeding 100° C.