Apparatus for making controlled segregated phase domain structures

• US 8,084,685 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HelioVolt Corporation
• Original Assignee: HelioVolt Corporation
• Inventors: Stanbery, Billy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERSHON, JAYNE L
• Application Number:
  US11/331,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20070160770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 136/263
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0322 comprising only AIBIIICVI chalcopyrite compounds, e.g. Cu In Se2, Cu Ga Se2, Cu In Ga Se2
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/18 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/541 CuInSe2 material PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first substrate; and a second substrate coupled to the first substrate, characterized in that, to control formation of a segregated phase domain structure within a chemical reaction product by controlling an amount of a constituent of a precursor that is present per unit surface area, at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first substrate and the second substrate defines a substantially regularly periodically varying relief with respect to basal spatial location.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a tool; and

a back surface contact coupled to the tool with a chemical reaction product there-between formed from a first precursor and a second precursor, the tool and the back surface contact movable relative to one another with the chemical reaction product remaining with one of said tool and back surface contact,

characterized in that, to control formation of a segregated phase domain structure within the chemical reaction product by controlling an amount of a constituent of a precursor that is present per unit surface area, at least one member selected from the group consisting of the tool and the back surface contact defines a substantially regularly periodically varying relief with respect to basal plan spatial location;

wherein the ratio of the first precursor to second precursor varies in a pattern that correlates to the periodically varying relief.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool and the back surface contact are movable relative to one another to contact the first precursor located on the tool with a second precursor located on the back surface contact.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a voltage source coupled to the tool and the back surface contact to generate an electric field between the tool and the back surface contact, the electric field substantially regularly spatially periodically varying in an electric field strength with respect to basal plane spatial location.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

a tool; and

a back surface contact coupled to the tool, the tool and the back surface contact movable relative to one another,

wherein the tool and the back surface contact are movable relative to one another to i) contact a first precursor located on the tool with a second precursor located on the back surface contact and ii) separate a chemical reaction product from at least one member selected from the group consisting of the tool and the back surface contact,

characterized in that, to control formation of a segregated phase domain structure within a chemical reaction product by controlling an amount of a constituent of a precursor that is present per unit surface area, at least one member selected from the group consisting of the tool and the back surface contact defines a substantially regularly periodically varying relief with respect to basal plane spatial location;

wherein the ratio of the first precursor to second precursor varies in a pattern that correlates to the periodically varying relief.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a voltage source coupled to the tool and the back surface contact to generate an electric field between the tool and the back surface contact, the electric field substantially regularly spatially periodically varying in electric field strength with respect to basal plane spatial location.