Methods for forming holes in a substrate by reducing back reflections of a quasi-non-diffracting beam into the substrate are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface includes applying an exit material to the second surface of the substrate, wherein a difference between a refractive index of the exit material and a refractive index of the substrate is 0.4 or less, and focusing a pulsed laser beam into a quasi-non-diffracting beam directed into the substrate such that the quasi-non-diffracting beam enters the substrate through the first surface. The substrate is transparent to at least one wavelength of the pulsed laser beam. The quasi-non-diffracting beam generates an induced absorption within the substrate that produces a damage track within the substrate.

The invention relates to a method for machining a multi-layer workpiece blank (3) by means of a laser beam, comprising the following steps: specifying a machining program for machining the workpiece blank according to an ablation geometry in order to generate a desired edge and/or surface geometry (13) using a laser machining device; tensioning the workpiece blank in the laser machining device and positioning the workpiece holder in a measuring position; measuring a thickness of at least one of the layers of the multi-layer workpiece blank (3); modifying the machining program in order to machine the multi-layer workpiece blank (3) according to the measured layer thickness with an consistent ablation geometry; and machining the tensioned workpiece blank (3) using the modified machining program via a laser of the laser machining device in order to generate the desired edge and/or surface geometry (13) with a cutting edge (12). The invention also relates to a correspondingly configured device.

Devices, systems, and/or methods that can facilitate plating one or more metal layers onto a niobium-titanium substrate are provided. According to an embodiment, a device can comprise a niobium-titanium substrate. The device can further comprise a first metal layer plated on a portion of the niobium-titanium substrate. The device can further comprise a second metal layer plated on the first metal layer. The device can further comprise a third metal layer plated on the second metal layer.

Metallization of semiconductor substrates using a laser beam, and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, solar cell circuit, solar cell strings, and solar cell arrays are described. A solar cell string can include a plurality of solar cells. The plurality of solar cells can include a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor regions disposed in or above the substrate. A plurality of conductive contact structures is electrically connected to the plurality semiconductor regions. Each conductive contact structure includes a locally deposited metal portion disposed in contact with a corresponding one of the semiconductor regions.

Provided is an electrode sheet manufacturing apparatus that forms an electrode sheet by cutting a sheet stack including an electrode composite material layer and a separator provided on the electrode composite material layer. The electrode sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a laser irradiation device that irradiates the sheet stack with a first laser beam having a wavelength to be absorbed by the separator and a second laser beam having a wavelength to be absorbed by the electrode composite material layer, and a controller that controls driving of the laser irradiation device. The controller moves an irradiation position of the first laser beam relative to the sheet stack and moves an irradiation position of the second laser beam so as to follow a track of the irradiation position of the first laser beam.

A welded structural assembly and method, in one form, includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate adjacent the upper substrate, a fastener, and a sealing member. The fastener includes a shank portion, a first head portion, and a second head portion. The shank portion extends through the upper substrate and into the lower substrate. The shank is welded to the lower substrate. The first head portion has an outer periphery and an underside. The second head portion is frangibly coupled to the first head portion. The sealing member is disposed under the first head portion between the upper substrate and the first head portion. The sealing member contacts the underside and extends beyond the outer periphery such that the sealing member extends radially outward beyond all points of the first head portion.

Devices, systems, and/or methods that can facilitate plating one or more metal layers onto a niobium-titanium substrate are provided. According to an embodiment, a device can comprise a niobium-titanium substrate. The device can further comprise a first metal layer plated on a portion of the niobium-titanium substrate. The device can further comprise a second metal layer plated on the first metal layer. The device can further comprise a third metal layer plated on the second metal layer.

A method for making an article is disclosed. According to the method, a digital model of the article is generated. The digital model is inputted into an additive manufacturing apparatus comprising an energy source. The additive manufacturing apparatus applies energy from the energy source to successively applied incremental quantities of a powder to fuse the powder to form the article corresponding to the digital model. The powder particles individually include a composite core including a first phase of a first metal and a second phase of a ceramic. A first shell including a second metal is disposed over the core.

Provided is a multi-junction solar cell in which two or more absorption layers having different bandgaps are stacked on one another. The multi-junction solar cell includes a first cell including a first absorption layer, and a second cell electrically connected in series onto the first cell, wherein the second cell includes a second absorption layer having a higher bandgap compared to the first absorption layer, and a plurality of recesses penetrating through the second absorption layer.

The method of producing composite material with a high complex of mechanical properties, consisting of vanadium alloy inner layer V—3-11 wt % Ti—3-6 wt % Cr and two outer layers of stainless steel of ferritic grade with chromium content of not less than 13 wt %, includes preparation of a composite workpiece consisting of said inner layer and outer layers, hot treatment by pressure and subsequent exposure in furnace. Prepared composite workpiece, thickness of inner layer of which is 1.5-2 times more than total thickness of outer layers of stainless steel, hot working is performed with pressure of the workpiece in the temperature range of 1,050-1,150° C. with degree of reduction from 30 to 40% and with subsequent exposure for 1-3 hours with temperature reduction to 500-700° C., then annealing workpiece by heating to temperature of 850-950° C., holding for 2-4 hours and subsequent cooling in furnace.