US Patent 8163589 - Active layer of solar cell formed using nanospheres

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8163589.html

This patent from Autotek Corporation teaches using silicon oxide nanospheres as sacrificial material to create microcavities in the active layer of solar cells and thus increase solar conversion efficiency. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for forming an active layer having plural micro cavities, comprising following steps:

A. providing a substrate having multiple layers of nanospheres, wherein the multiple layers are formed by aggregated nanospheres;

B. forming at least one silicon active layer to fill inter-gaps between the aggregated nanospheres and part of the surface of the substrate; and

C. removing the nanospheres to form the active layer having plural micro cavities on the surface of the substrate.