H10P14/3231

Interconnect line structures with metal chalcogenide cap materials
12525488 · 2026-01-13 · ·

Integrated circuit interconnect structures including an interconnect line metallization feature subjected to one or more chalcogenation techniques to form a cap may reduce line resistance. A top portion of a bulk line material may be advantageously crystallized into a metal chalcogenide cap with exceptionally large crystal structure. Accordingly, chalcogenation of a top portion of a bulk material can lower scattering resistance of an interconnect line relative to alternatives where the bulk material is capped with an alternative material, such as an amorphous dielectric or a fine grained metallic or graphitic material.

High efficiency tandem solar cells and a method for fabricating same
12550457 · 2026-02-10 ·

Solar cell structures comprising a plurality of solar cells, wherein each solar cell is separated from adjacent solar cell via a tunnel junction and/or a resonant tunneling structure (RTS), are described. Solar cells are implemented on Ge, Si, GaN, sapphire, and glass substrates. Each of the plurality of solar cells is at least partially constructed from a cell material which harnesses photons having energies in a predetermined energy range. In one embodiment each solar cell comprises of at least two sub-cells. It also describes a nano-patterned region/layer to implement high efficiency tandem/multi-junction solar cells that reduces dislocation density due to mismatch in lattice constants in the case of single crystalline and/or polycrystalline solar cells. Finally, solar structure could be used as light-emitting diodes when biased in forward biasing mode. The mode of operation could be determined by a programmed microprocessor.