Femtosecond laser doping of silicon; a novel fabrication method for photovoltaics

飞秒激光硅掺杂；

• 批准号: 0754227
• 负责人: Eric Mazur
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: Harvard University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-04-01 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0754227&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Femtosecond; laser; doping; silicon; novel

CBET-0754227MazurSilicon is a desirable material for solar cells because of its abundance, non-toxicity, and existing manufacturing infrastructure; however, the high costs of producing silicon solar cells have prevented them from taking a larger role in the electricity generation market. Many proposals exist for achieving higher efficiencies in solar cells, as well as proposals for how to manufacture them less expensively. Oftentimes, however, these goals are mutually exclusive. The research we propose using short, intense pulses of light to modify silicon and fabricate solar cells could achieve both lower costs and higher efficiencies simultaneously. Additionally, our research will make it possible to achieve these goals using silicon, an abundant material for which our society has tremendous engineering expertise (due to its ubiquitous use in electronics such as computers). As such, this research will help our country transition from fueling our energy needs via the carbon intensive combustion of fossil fuels to a renewable and sustainable future. Intellectual Merit: Prof. Eric Mazur's research group has developed a novel technique for constructing solar cells using very short pulses of laser light. Using these ultra-short laser pulses, we can endow silicon with remarkable optical properties, such as strong sensitivity to infrared colors of light that pass through a standard silicon solar cell without being absorbed. The focus of this research project is to leverage the group's expertise with lasers and solid-state materials to characterize this exciting new type of silicon and determine its promise as a new material in solar cells. During this project, a number of prototype silicon solar cells will be fabricated, including thin-film, multijunction, and nanoparticle-enhanced solar cells. These devices will represent the fruit of a novel fabrication technique that will lower costs and raise efficiencies for silicon-based solar cells. Our group has a well-proven record of scientific discovery and innovation, as evidenced by highly cited publications in peer reviewed journals, patents granted, and the launch of a rapidly growing start-up company based on technology discovered by the group.Broader Impact: While our work will directly advance the state of solar cell technology, the proposed work will contribute to a better understanding of the exotic materials that are produced in the intense conditions of ultrashort laser pulses. Additionally, our work will contribute to the education and training of future multidisciplinary scientists and engineers through research-based education of undergraduate and graduate students. Through our work with local high schools, NSF sponsored programs, and the high representation of women in our research group, we will broaden participation of underrepresented groups. Our extensive collaborations with academic and industrial partners around the world will enhance infrastructure for research, as will our participation in NSF-funded multi-user facilities. Finally, using the group's well-established program for integrating outreach and public education with research, this work will be broadly disseminated to the general public.

MazurSilicon是一种理想的太阳能电池材料，因为它的丰富性，无毒性和现有的制造基础设施;然而，生产硅太阳能电池的高成本阻碍了它们在发电市场中发挥更大的作用。存在许多用于在太阳能电池中实现更高效率的建议，以及用于如何更便宜地制造它们的建议。 然而，这些目标往往是相互排斥的。 我们提出的研究使用短而强的光脉冲来修改硅和制造太阳能电池可以同时实现更低的成本和更高的效率。 此外，我们的研究将使使用硅实现这些目标成为可能，硅是一种丰富的材料，我们的社会拥有巨大的工程专业知识（由于其在计算机等电子产品中的普遍使用）。因此，这项研究将有助于我国从通过化石燃料的碳密集型燃烧来满足能源需求过渡到可再生和可持续的未来。智力优势：Eric Mazur教授的研究小组开发了一种使用非常短的激光脉冲构建太阳能电池的新技术。使用这些超短激光脉冲，我们可以赋予硅以显着的光学特性，例如对穿过标准硅太阳能电池而不被吸收的红外光的强烈敏感性。该研究项目的重点是利用该小组在激光和固态材料方面的专业知识来表征这种令人兴奋的新型硅，并确定其作为太阳能电池新材料的前景。在该项目中，将制造一些原型硅太阳能电池，包括薄膜，多结和纳米颗粒增强型太阳能电池。这些器件将代表一种新型制造技术的成果，这种技术将降低硅基太阳能电池的成本并提高效率。我们的团队在科学发现和创新方面有着良好的记录，同行评审期刊上的高引用率论文、授予的专利以及基于团队发现的技术成立的快速增长的初创公司都证明了这一点。虽然我们的工作将直接推动太阳能电池技术的发展，这项工作将有助于更好地了解在超短激光脉冲的强烈条件下产生的奇异材料。 此外，我们的工作将通过对本科生和研究生的研究型教育，为未来多学科科学家和工程师的教育和培训做出贡献。通过我们与当地高中的合作，NSF赞助的项目，以及女性在我们研究小组中的高代表性，我们将扩大代表性不足的群体的参与。我们与世界各地的学术和工业合作伙伴的广泛合作将加强研究基础设施，我们参与NSF资助的多用户设施也将如此。最后，利用该小组完善的方案，将外联和公共教育与研究相结合，这项工作将广泛传播给公众。