Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080216603 | TREATED REFRACTORY MATERIAL AND METHODS OF MAKING - A treated refractory material includes a sintered porous refractory material having one or more protective materials disposed within pores of the refractory material, wherein the protective material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, silica, rare earth oxides, rare earth zirconates, titanium oxide, mullite, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron oxide, and blends thereof. Methods of preparing the treated refractory material are also provided. The treated refractory material provides protection from the penetration of slag and extends the service life of the refractory. | 09-11-2008 |
20080314445 | METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF HIGH PURITY SILICON - A method of forming high-purity elemental silicon is disclosed. The method includes the step of heating a silica gel composition, or an intermediate composition derived from a silica gel composition, wherein the silica gel composition or intermediate composition includes at least about 5% by weight carbon, and the heating temperature is above about 1550° C. The heating step results in the production of a product which includes elemental silicon. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making a photovoltaic cell. The method includes the step of forming a semiconductor substrate from elemental silicon prepared as described in this disclosure. Additional steps are then undertaken to fabricate the photovoltaic device. | 12-25-2008 |
20080314446 | PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION OF SOLAR-GRADE SILICON AND PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - A process for the manufacture of high-purity elemental silicon is described. The process includes the step of preparing a silica gel composition by reacting at least one organosilane compound with an aqueous composition, so as to form granules of the silica gel. A hydrocarbon species is then decomposed by way of a hydrocarbon cracking reaction in the presence of the silica gel composition, so that carbon resulting from the decomposition of the hydrocarbon species is deposited on the granules of the gel composition. Heating of the carbon-containing silica gel composition to an elevated temperature produces the elemental silicon product. Related methods for making photovoltaic cells, using the elemental silicon, are also described. | 12-25-2008 |
20090074647 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLAR GRADE SILICON - A starting material including silica and carbon is heated to form an intermediate material. The intermediate material includes silica and silicon carbide. The intermediate material is reacted to form silicon. At least some of the emissions that are generated by heating the starting material and reacting the intermediate material are collected and used to generate electric power. | 03-19-2009 |
20090188347 | TREATED REFRACTORY MATERIAL AND METHODS OF MAKING - A treated refractory material includes a refractory material having a plurality of pores, wherein the refractory material comprises aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, chromium oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, calcium oxide, fireclay, silicon carbide, tungsten, mullite, dolomite, magnesite, magnesium aluminum oxide, chromite, magnetite, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and a protective material disposed within the plurality of pores of the refractory material, wherein the protective material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, silica, rare earth oxides, rare earth zirconates, titanium oxide, mullite, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron oxide, and blends thereof. | 07-30-2009 |
20100040778 | Refractory Material with Improved Resistance to Molten Slag - A treated refractory material includes a porous refractory material having one or more protective materials disposed within pores of the refractory material. Methods of preparing the treated refractory material are also provided. The treated refractory material provides protection from the penetration of slag and extends the service life of the refractory material. | 02-18-2010 |
20110259423 | METHODS FOR FORMING BACK CONTACT ELECTRODES FOR CADMIUM TELLURIDE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - A method for forming a back contact for a photovoltaic cell that includes at least one semiconductor layer is provided. The method includes applying a continuous film of a chemically active material on a surface of the semiconductor layer and activating the chemically active material such that the activated material etches the surface of the semiconductor layer. The method further includes removing the continuous film of the activated material from the photovoltaic cell and depositing a metal contact layer on the etched surface of the semiconductor layer. | 10-27-2011 |
20140000701 | Back Contact Electrodes for Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Cells | 01-02-2014 |