Patent Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to device fabrication of thin films used as solar devices or other electronic devices, and include textured back reflectors utilized in solar applications. In one embodiment, a method for forming a textured metallic back reflector which includes depositing a metallic layer on a gallium arsenide material within a thin film stack, forming an array of metallic islands from the metallic layer during an annealing process, removing or etching material from the gallium arsenide material to form apertures between the metallic islands, and depositing a metallic reflector layer to fill the apertures and cover the metallic islands. In another embodiment, a textured metallic back reflector includes an array of metallic islands disposed on a gallium arsenide material, a plurality of apertures disposed between the metallic islands and extending into the gallium arsenide material, a metallic reflector layer disposed over the metallic islands, and a plurality of reflector protrusions formed between the metallic islands and extending from the metallic reflector layer and into the apertures formed in the gallium arsenide material.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is claiming under 35 USC 119(e), the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/251,681, filed Oct. 14, 2009, and the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/251,684, filed Oct. 14, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the invention generally relate to the fabrication of solar devices, and more particularly to back reflectors for solar devices and process for fabricating these reflectors. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    There is a need for back reflectors which provide diffusive reflection, yet are highly reflecting, and are in ohmic contact with the solar device. There is also a need to form back reflectors, such as textured back reflectors, by non-lithographic techniques. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the invention generally relate to the fabrication of thin film devices, such as solar devices or other electronic devices, which contain textured back reflectors. Embodiments provide textured back reflectors which are metallic reflectors or metal-dielectric reflectors. Many of the thin film devices described herein generally contain epitaxially grown layers which are formed on a sacrificial layer disposed on or over a support substrate or wafer. Once the thin film devices are formed by epitaxy processes, the thin film devices are subsequently removed from the support substrate or wafer during an epitaxial lift off (ELO) process. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, a textured metallic back reflector is provided which includes an array of metallic islands disposed on a gallium arsenide material, a metallic reflector layer disposed on or over the metallic islands, and a plurality of reflector protrusions formed between the metallic islands and extending from the metallic reflector layer and into the gallium arsenide material. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a textured metallic back reflector is provided which includes a metallic reflector layer disposed on or over a gallium arsenide material, and a plurality of reflector protrusions extending from the metallic reflector layer and into the gallium arsenide material. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a textured metallic back reflector is provided which includes an array of metallic islands disposed on a gallium arsenide material, a plurality of apertures disposed between the metallic islands and extending into the gallium arsenide material, a metallic reflector layer disposed on or over the metallic islands, and a plurality of reflector protrusions formed between the metallic islands and extending from the metallic reflector layer and into the apertures formed in the gallium arsenide material. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a textured metallic back reflector is provided which includes an array of metallic islands disposed on a gallium arsenide material, a plurality of apertures disposed between the metallic islands and extending into the gallium arsenide material, and a metallic reflector layer disposed within and filling the apertures and over the metallic islands. 
         [0011]    The gallium arsenide material may contain various gallium arsenide layers, such as a gallium arsenide cell. The gallium arsenide cell may contain a p-type gallium arsenide layer or stack disposed above an n-type gallium arsenide layer or stack. In one example, the p-type gallium arsenide stack has a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 3,000 nm and the n-type gallium arsenide stack has a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 2,000 nm. In one example, n-type gallium arsenide stack has a thickness of about 200 nm, and in another example, within a range from about 700 nm to about 1,200 nm. 
         [0012]    The metallic layer may contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, the metallic layer may contain silver, copper, or gold. The metallic layer may have a thickness within a range from about 2 nm to about 50 nm, preferably, from about 4 nm to about 40 nm, more preferably, from about 5 nm to about 30 nm, and more preferably, from about 10 nm to about 20 nm. 
         [0013]    The metallic islands may contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, the metallic islands may contain silver, copper, or gold. In some embodiments, each metallic island may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each metallic island may have a thickness within a range from about 20 nm to about 100 nm, preferably, from about 30 nm to about 80 nm, and more preferably, from about 45 nm to about 60 nm. 
         [0014]    In some examples, each metallic island may be spaced apart from a neighboring metallic island at a distance within a range from about 50 nm to about 1,000 nm, such as from about 100 nm to about 700 nm, or such as from about 150 nm to about 500 nm. The array of metallic islands may have a surface density/concentration of about 1 metallic island per about 0.3 μm 2 . 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, each aperture formed within the gallium arsenide material may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 1,000 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 700 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 500 nm. Each aperture may have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. 
         [0016]    In an alternative embodiment, an adhesion layer may be deposited or formed on the gallium arsenide material before depositing the metallic reflector layer and/or the reflector protrusions. In one example, the adhesion layer may be disposed between the gallium arsenide material and the metallic reflector layer. In another example, the adhesion layer may be disposed between the gallium arsenide material and the reflector protrusions. The adhesion layer may contain nickel, titanium, chromium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. The adhesion layer may have a thickness within a range from about 1 Å to about 20 Å. The adhesion layer may be deposited by PVD, ALD, or CVD techniques. 
         [0017]    The metallic reflector layer may contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, the metallic reflector layer may contain silver, copper, or gold. The metallic reflector layer may have a thickness within a range from about 15 nm to about 2,000 nm or greater. In some examples, the thickness of the metallic reflector layer may be from about 20 nm to about 750 nm, preferably, from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, and more preferably, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. 
         [0018]    Similarly, the reflector protrusions contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, the reflector protrusions may contain silver, copper, or gold. Each protrusion may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each protrusion may have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. 
         [0019]    In other embodiments described herein, a method for forming a textured metallic back reflector is provided which includes depositing a metallic layer on a gallium arsenide material within a thin film stack, forming an array of metallic islands from the metallic layer during an annealing process, removing or etching material from the gallium arsenide material to form apertures between the metallic islands, and depositing a metallic reflector layer to fill the apertures and cover the metallic islands. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the method for forming a textured metallic back reflector containing silver by depositing a metallic layer containing silver on the gallium arsenide material disposed on the substrate, forming an array of metallic islands containing silver from the metallic layer during an annealing process, removing or etching material from the gallium arsenide material to form apertures between the metallic islands, and depositing a metallic reflector layer containing silver to fill the apertures and cover the metallic islands. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the array of metallic islands may be formed from the metallic layer during the annealing process. The method may include exposing the substrate to nitrogen gas within a processing system and heating the metallic layer to a temperature of about 200° C. during the annealing process. The formation of the metallic islands is due to the film dewetting and agglomeration of the metallic layer. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the metallic layer and the metallic reflector layer may each independently contain silver. The metallic layer and the metallic reflector layer may contain the same material or may contain different materials from one another. The metallic layer and the metallic reflector layer may be deposited by a vapor deposition process, such as a vacuum evaporation process, a PVD process, a CVD process, or an ALD process. The metallic layer and the metallic reflector layer may each independently be deposited at a temperature within a range from about 18° C. to about 50° C., preferably, from about 20° C. to about 30° C., and more preferably, from about 22° C. to about 25° C. Alternatively, the metallic layer and the metallic reflector layer may each independently be deposited at higher temperatures, such as at temperatures greater than 50° C., for example, at temperatures of about 100° C. or greater, about 200° C. or greater, about 300° C. or greater, about 400° C. or greater, or greater than about 500° C. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, a sacrificial layer may be disposed between the gallium arsenide material and the substrate. The sacrificial layer may contain aluminum arsenide, alloys thereof, or derivatives thereof. The sacrificial layer may be removed and the gallium arsenide material and the substrate are separated during an ELO process. The ELO process may occur prior or subsequent to the annealing process. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment as described herein, a textured metallic back reflector is provided which includes a dielectric layer disposed on a gallium arsenide material, an array of metallic islands disposed on the dielectric layer, a metallic reflector layer disposed on or over the metallic islands, and a plurality of reflector protrusions formed between the metallic islands and extending from the metallic reflector layer, through the dielectric layer, and into the gallium arsenide material. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes a dielectric layer disposed on a gallium arsenide material, a metallic reflector layer disposed on or over the dielectric layer, and a plurality of reflector protrusions extending from the metallic reflector layer, through the dielectric layer, and into the gallium arsenide material. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes a dielectric layer disposed on a gallium arsenide material, an array of metallic islands disposed on the dielectric layer, a plurality of apertures disposed between the metallic islands and extending through the dielectric layer and into the gallium arsenide material, a metallic reflector layer disposed on or over the metallic islands, and a plurality of reflector protrusions formed between the metallic islands and extending from the metallic reflector layer and into the apertures formed in the dielectric layer and the gallium arsenide material. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes a dielectric layer disposed on a gallium arsenide material, an array of metallic islands disposed on the dielectric layer, a plurality of apertures formed between the metallic islands and extending through the dielectric layer and into the gallium arsenide material, a metallic reflector layer disposed within and filling the apertures and over the metallic islands. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes a dielectric layer disposed on a gallium arsenide material, an array of metallic islands disposed on the dielectric layer, a metallic reflector layer disposed on or over the metallic islands, and a plurality of reflector protrusions formed between the metallic islands and extending from the metallic reflector layer, through the dielectric layer, and into the gallium arsenide material. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the dielectric layer contains a dielectric material with a refractive index within a range from about 1 to about 3. The dielectric layer may contain at least one dielectric material such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many embodiments, the dielectric layer contains at least one dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In one example, the dielectric layer contains silicon oxide. In another example, the dielectric layer contains silicon oxynitride. The dielectric layer may have a thickness within a range from about 10 nm to about 150 nm, preferably, from about 20 nm to about 100 nm, and more preferably, from about 30 nm to about 80 nm. 
         [0030]    In other embodiments, the dielectric layer contains a dielectric material that is completely or substantially resistant to being etched when exposed to hydrofluoric acid during an ELO process. Dielectric material contained within the dielectric layer and which is resistant to hydrofluoric acid includes zinc sulfide, silicon nitride, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. 
         [0031]    In an alternative embodiment, an adhesion layer may be deposited or formed on the gallium arsenide material or the dielectric layer before depositing the metallic reflector layer and/or the reflector protrusions. In one example, the adhesion layer may be disposed between the gallium arsenide material or the dielectric layer and the metallic reflector layer. In another example, the adhesion layer may be disposed between the gallium arsenide material or the dielectric layer and the reflector protrusions. The adhesion layer may contain nickel, titanium, chromium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. The adhesion layer may have a thickness within a range from about 1 Å to about 20 Å. The adhesion layer may be deposited by PVD, ALD, or CVD techniques. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment as described herein, a method for forming a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes depositing a dielectric layer on a gallium arsenide material within a thin film stack, depositing a metallic layer on the dielectric layer, forming an array of metallic islands from the metallic layer during an annealing process, removing material from the dielectric layer to form apertures between the metallic islands during a first etching process, removing material from the gallium arsenide material to extend the apertures into the gallium arsenide material during a second etching process, and depositing a metallic reflector layer to fill the apertures and cover the metallic islands. In some examples, the etching process for etching or removing material of the dielectric layer may be a buffered oxide etch (BOE) process. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, a method for forming a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes depositing a dielectric layer on a gallium arsenide material within a thin film stack, depositing a metallic layer on the dielectric layer, forming an array of metallic islands from the metallic layer during an annealing process, removing or etching material from the dielectric layer and the gallium arsenide material to form apertures between the metallic islands, and depositing a metallic reflector layer to fill the apertures and cover the metallic islands. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, a method for forming a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes depositing a dielectric layer on a gallium arsenide material within a thin film stack, depositing a metallic layer containing silver on the dielectric layer, forming an array of metallic islands containing silver from the metallic layer during an annealing process, removing material from the dielectric layer to form apertures between the metallic islands during a first etching process, removing material from the gallium arsenide material to extend the apertures into the gallium arsenide material during a second etching process, and depositing a metallic reflector layer containing silver to fill the apertures and cover the metallic islands. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, a method for forming a textured metal-dielectric back reflector is provided which includes depositing a dielectric layer on a gallium arsenide material within a thin film stack, depositing a metallic layer containing silver on the dielectric layer, forming an array of metallic islands containing silver from the metallic layer during an annealing process, removing or etching material from the dielectric layer and the gallium arsenide material to form apertures between the metallic islands, and depositing a metallic reflector layer containing silver to fill the apertures and cover the metallic islands. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    So that the manner in which the above recited features of the invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  illustrates a flow chart depicting a process for forming a back reflector according to embodiments described herein; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 2A-2G  depict a gallium arsenide stack at progressive stages of forming a back reflector thereon, according to embodiments described herein; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 2H-2I  depict a gallium arsenide stack at progressive stages of forming a back reflector with an adhesion layer thereon, according to an alternative embodiment described herein; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart depicting a process for forming another back reflector according to other embodiments described herein; 
           [0041]      FIGS. 4A-4E  depict a gallium arsenide stack at progressive stages of forming another back reflector thereon, according to other embodiments described herein; 
           [0042]      FIG. 4F  depicts a gallium arsenide stack at progressive stages of forming a back reflector with an adhesion layer thereon, according to an alternative embodiment described herein; 
           [0043]      FIGS. 5A-5D  depict another gallium arsenide stack at progressive stages of forming another back reflector thereon, according to other embodiments described herein; 
           [0044]      FIGS. 6A-6D  depict another gallium arsenide stack at progressive stages of forming another back reflector thereon, according to other embodiments described herein; 
           [0045]      FIGS. 7A-7E  depict another gallium arsenide stack at progressive stages of forming another back reflector thereon, according to other embodiments described herein; 
           [0046]      FIG. 8  depicts another gallium arsenide stack containing a back reflector, according to other embodiments described herein; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart depicting a process for forming another back reflector according to other embodiments described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0048]      FIG. 1  illustrates a flow chart depicting a process for forming an integrated textured back reflector according to one embodiment.  FIGS. 2A-2G  depicts a gallium arsenide stack containing a dielectric layer during progressive stages of fabricating a textured back reflector in another embodiment. In some examples, textured back reflector  250  may be fabricated on gallium arsenide stack  200  during process  100 . Gallium arsenide material and gallium arsenide stack is referred to throughout the present specification. One of ordinary skill in the art recognizes that there may be other elements present in these materials and their presence are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0049]      FIG. 2A  depicts gallium arsenide cell  210  contained within gallium arsenide stack  200 , as described in one embodiment herein. Gallium arsenide cell  210  includes upper portion  208  disposed on or over lower portion  206  and has upper surface  202 . Lower portion  206  and upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may each independently contain a single layer or multiple layers of various materials. 
         [0050]    In some embodiments, lower portion  206  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be an n-type gallium arsenide stack while upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be a p-type gallium arsenide stack. In one embodiment, lower portion  206  may contain be n-type materials, such as a contact layer, a passivation layer, and an emitter layer. In one example, lower portion  206  may contain an n-type gallium arsenide emitter layer disposed on or over a front window (e.g., a passivation layer) disposed on or over an n-type gallium arsenide contact layer. In another embodiment, upper portion  208  may contain be p-type materials, such as an absorber layer, a passivation layer, and a contact layer. In one example, upper portion  208  may contain may contain a p-type gallium arsenide contact layer disposed on or over a rear window (e.g., a passivation layer) disposed on or over a p-type gallium arsenide absorber layer. In another embodiment, gallium arsenide cell  210  depicted in  FIG. 2A  has the same layers as gallium arsenide cell  510  depicted in  FIG. 5A . 
         [0051]    Step  110  of process  100  includes forming or depositing at least one dielectric material or layer on a gallium arsenide material, such as dielectric layer  220  disposed on gallium arsenide cell  210  as depicted in  FIG. 2B . Dielectric layer  220  is deposited and in physical contact with gallium arsenide cell  210 , such as upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . In one embodiment, dielectric layer  220  is formed by a vapor deposition process during step  110 . The vapor deposition process may include CVD, PE-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, and PVD processes. 
         [0052]    In some embodiments, dielectric layer  220  contains a dielectric material with a refractive index within a range from about 1 to about 3. Dielectric layer  220  may contain at least one dielectric material such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, dopant variants thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many embodiments, dielectric layer  220  contains at least one dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, dopant variants thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In one example, dielectric layer  220  contains silicon oxide. In another example, dielectric layer  220  contains silicon oxynitride. 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, dielectric layer  220  contains a dielectric material that is completely or substantially resistant to being etched when exposed to hydrofluoric acid during an ELO process. Dielectric material contained within dielectric layer  220  and which is resistant to hydrofluoric acid includes zinc sulfide, silicon nitride, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Dielectric layer  220  may have a thickness within a range from about 10 nm to about 150 nm, preferably, from about 20 nm to about 100 nm, and more preferably, from about 30 nm to about 80 nm. 
         [0054]    Step  120  of process  100  includes forming or depositing at least one metallic layer on the dielectric layer, such as metallic layer  230  disposed on dielectric layer  220  as depicted in  FIG. 2C . Metallic layer  230  may be deposited by a vapor deposition process, such as a vacuum evaporation process, a PVD or sputtering process, a CVD process, or an ALD process. Metallic layer  230  may be deposited at a temperature within a range from about 18° C. to about 50° C., preferably, from about 20° C. to about 30° C., and more preferably, from about 22° C. to about 25° C. Alternatively, metallic layer  230  may be deposited at higher temperatures, such as at temperatures greater than 50° C., for example, at temperatures of about 100° C. or greater, about 200° C. or greater, about 300° C. or greater, about 400° C. or greater, or greater than about 500° C. 
         [0055]    Metallic layer  230  may contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In one example, metallic layer  230  contains silver or a silver alloy. In other examples, metallic layer  230  may contain copper, copper alloys, gold, gold alloys, or combinations thereof. Metallic layer  230  may have a thickness within a range from about 2 nm to about 50 nm, preferably, from about 4 nm to about 40 nm, more preferably, from about 5 nm to about 30 nm, and more preferably, from about 10 nm to about 20 nm. 
         [0056]    Step  130  of process  100  includes forming an array of metallic islands from the metallic layer onto a dielectric layer during an annealing process, as described in another embodiment herein. Alternatively, the array of metallic islands may be deposited directly onto the dielectric layer. The method may include exposing the substrate or gallium arsenide stack  200  to nitrogen gas within a processing system and heating metallic layer  230  containing silver to a temperature of about 200° C. or greater during the annealing process. Metallic islands  232  are formed due to the film dewetting and agglomeration of metallic layer  230 . Each metallic island  232  may be spaced apart from a neighboring metallic island  232  at distance  238 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 2D  depicts an array of metallic islands  232  formed from metallic layer  230  and formed on dielectric layer  220 . The array of metallic islands  232  are spaced apart to form gaps  234  therebetween having distance  238 . Generally, metallic islands  232  may have an average particle diameter, such as diameter  236 . 
         [0058]    In some embodiments, each metallic island  232  may have diameter  236  within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each metallic island  232  may have a thickness within a range from about 20 nm to about 100 nm, preferably, from about 30 nm to about 80 nm, and more preferably, from about 45 nm to about 60 nm. Each gap  234  may have a lateral length within a range from about 50 nm to about 1,000 nm, such as from about 100 nm to about 700 nm, or such as from about 150 nm to about 500 nm. The array of metallic islands  232  may have a surface density/concentration of about 1 metallic island per about 0.3 μm 2 . 
         [0059]    In another embodiment, metallic islands  232  usually contain the same material as metallic layer  230 . Therefore, metallic islands  232  may contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, metallic islands  232  may contain silver, copper, or gold. In one example, metallic islands  232  contain silver or a silver alloy. In other examples, metallic islands  232  may contain copper, copper alloys, gold, gold alloys, or combinations thereof. 
         [0060]    Step  140  of process  100  includes removing or etching dielectric layer  220 , between metallic islands  232 , as depicted in  FIG. 2E . Dielectric material is removed from dielectric layer  220  while forming apertures  224  between metallic islands  232 . Apertures  224  extend through dielectric layer  220  and reach to upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . In some embodiments, each aperture  224  may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 1,000 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 700 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 500 nm. 
         [0061]    In some embodiments, dielectric layer  220  may be exposed to a dielectric etch solution during step  140 . The dielectric etch solution may be a buffered oxide etch (BOE) solution and contain ammonium fluoride and/or hydrofluoric acid in an aqueous solution. For example, the dielectric etch solution may contain water, ammonium fluoride, and hydrofluoric acid. In a specific example, the dielectric etch solution may contain by volume about 9% of HF, about 32% of NH 4 F, and remainder of water. In other examples, the dielectric etch solution may contain water and ammonium fluoride. In another example, the dielectric etch solution may contain water and hydrofluoric acid. 
         [0062]    In other embodiments during step  140 , dielectric layer  220  may be exposed to a gas or plasma during a dry etching process, such as a reactive ion etching (RIE) process. During the dry etching process, dielectric material is exposed to the reactive gas or plasma and removed from dielectric layer  220  to forming apertures  224 . Dielectric layer  220  may be exposed to etch gases or plasmas containing XeF 2 , SF 6 , C 4 F 8 , derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Etch gases and plasmas may further contain other reagent gases or carrier gases. Exemplary carrier gases may include argon, helium, neon, xenon, hydrogen, nitrogen, or combinations thereof. 
         [0063]    Step  150  of process  100  includes extending the depth or length of apertures  224  into upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  by removing or etching gallium arsenide material from upper portion  208 , as depicted in  FIG. 2F . The etching process in step  150  may be a wet process or a dry process as described for in step  140 . In one example, apertures  224  is exposed to a dielectric etch solution and the depth of apertures  224  is elongated into upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  as gallium arsenide material is etched therefrom. In another example, apertures  224  is exposed to dry etching process, such as the RIE process, and the depth of apertures  224  is elongated into upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  as gallium arsenide material is etched therefrom. 
         [0064]    The depth or length of apertures  224  may have a length  244 . Length  244  is both the depth of each aperture  224  as well as the length of each reflector protrusion  242 . Each aperture  224  may have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. 
         [0065]    In another embodiment described herein, upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be exposed to a second etch solution to remove or etch the gallium arsenide material disposed therein while extending apertures  224 . In one example, upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be exposed to a piranha etch solution. The piranha etch solution may be used to etch both gallium arsenide materials as well as aluminum arsenide materials. The piranha etch solution contains at least sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and water. In one example, the piranha etch solution may be concentrated and may have a volumetric concentration ratio of sulfuric acid to hydrogen peroxide to water of about 1 to about 8 to about 100 (H 2 SO 4 :H 2 O 2 :H 2 O is about 1:8:100), and have an etch rate of about 300 nm/min. In another example, the piranha etch solution may be more dilute and may have a volumetric concentration ratio of sulfuric acid to hydrogen peroxide to water of about 1 to about 8 to about 500 (H 2 SO 4 :H 2 O 2 :H 2 O is about 1:8:500), and have an etch rate of about 60 nm/min. In another example, the piranha etch solution may be further diluted and may have a volumetric concentration ratio of sulfuric acid to hydrogen peroxide to water of about 1 to about 8 to about 1,000 (H 2 SO 4 :H 2 O 2 :H 2 O is about 1:8:1,000), and have an etch rate of about 30 nm/min. 
         [0066]    In another embodiment, upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be exposed to a citric acid etch solution for removing gallium arsenide material disposed within the contact layer, but not within a passivation layer containing aluminum arsenide, while extending apertures  224 . The citric acid etch solution may contain citric acid, ammonium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide. In one example, the citric acid etch solution may be formed by dissolving about 1.5 g citric acid in about 100 mL of H 2 O, add ammonium hydroxide solution until the pH reaches about 6.2, and subsequently add about 2 mL of H 2 O 2  in the solution. The citric acid etch solution etches gallium arsenide material but not the aluminum arsenide material, wherein Al x Ga 1-x As, and x≧about 0.2. Therefore, the citric acid etch solution may be used to etch through the contact layer containing gallium arsenide material, but stop etching at the passivation layer containing aluminum arsenide material—which could be etched by using a different etching solution, such as the above described piranha etch solution. 
         [0067]    Alternatively, the etching of the gallium arsenide by the citric acid etch solution could be followed by etching the aluminum arsenide (but not gallium arsenide) with an iodine-containing etch solution. The iodine etch solution may contain potassium iodine, iodine, sulfuric acid, and water. In one example, the iodine etch solution may have a concentration ratio by weight of potassium iodine to iodine to water to sulfuric acid of about 100 to about 60 to about 90 to about 250 (KI:I 2 :H 2 O:H 2 SO 4  is about 100:60:90:250). The iodine etch solution may be formed by combining potassium iodine, iodine, and water, then mix in equal parts of sulfuric acid as the pH is about 0.9. 
         [0068]    Step  160  of process  100  includes filling apertures  224  and covering any metallic islands  232  and portions dielectric layer  220  with at least one metal, while forming textured back reflector  250 , as depicted in  FIG. 2G . Textured back reflector  250  contains metallic reflector layer  240  and reflector protrusions  242 . Reflector protrusions  242  are formed as apertures  224  are filled with the metal. Similarly, metallic reflector layer  240  is formed as metallic islands  232  and portions of dielectric layer  220  are covered with the metal. Reflector protrusions  242  are in ohmic electric contact with gallium arsenide cell  210 , such as upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 2G  depicts gallium arsenide stack  200  containing textured back reflector  250  disposed on dielectric layer  220  and extending into upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , as described in some embodiments herein. Textured back reflector  250  contains metallic reflector layer  240  and reflector protrusions  242 . Metallic reflector layer  240  may be disposed on or over dielectric layer  220  and a p-type gallium arsenide stack, such as on or over a contact layer within upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . Reflector protrusions  242  extend from metallic reflector layer  240 , through dielectric layer  220  (e.g., a contact layer) and into a passivation layer (e.g., a rear window) within upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . 
         [0070]    In other embodiments, gallium arsenide stack  200  containing textured back reflector  250  disposed on dielectric layer  220  and extending into upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , as depicted in  FIG. 2G  may be the same thin film stack as gallium arsenide stack  600  containing textured back reflector  540  disposed on dielectric layer  620  and extending into p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  of gallium arsenide cell  510 , as depicted in  FIG. 6B . Also, gallium arsenide stack  200  may be the same thin film stack as gallium arsenide stack  800  containing textured back reflector  740  disposed on dielectric layer  820  and extending into p-type gallium arsenide stack  730  of gallium arsenide cell  710 , as depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0071]    Textured back reflector  250 , including metallic reflector layer  240  and/or reflector protrusions  242 , contains at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, metallic reflector layer  240  and/or reflector protrusions  242  contain silver, copper, or gold. Metallic reflector layer  240  may have a thickness within a range from about 15 nm to about 2,000 nm or greater. In some examples, the thickness of the metallic reflector layer may be from about 20 nm to about 750 nm, preferably, from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, and more preferably, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. Each reflector protrusions  242  may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each reflector protrusions  242  may also have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. 
         [0072]    In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in  FIGS. 2H-2I , adhesion layer  260  may be deposited or formed on or over gallium arsenide material, such as upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , metallic islands  232 , or dielectric layer  220  before depositing metallic reflector layer  240  and/or reflector protrusions  242 . Apertures  224  are formed within upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  as depicted in  FIG. 2F . Thereafter, adhesion layer  260  may be formed on gallium arsenide stack  200  as depicted in  FIG. 2H  during optional step  155  in process  100 . Subsequently, metallic reflector layer  240  may be disposed on or over adhesion layer  260 , as depicted in  FIG. 2I  during step  160 . 
         [0073]    In one example, adhesion layer  260  may be disposed between gallium arsenide cell  210  or dielectric layer  220  and metallic reflector layer  240 . In another example, adhesion layer  260  may be disposed between gallium arsenide cell  210  or dielectric layer  220  and reflector protrusions  242 . Adhesion layer  260  may contain nickel, titanium, chromium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Adhesion layer  260  may have a thickness within a range from about 1 Å to about 20 Å. Adhesion layer  260  may be deposited by PVD, ALD, or CVD techniques. 
         [0074]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart depicting a process for forming an integrated textured back reflector according to one embodiment.  FIGS. 4A-4E  depicts a gallium arsenide stack during progressive stages of fabricating a textured back reflector in another embodiment. In some examples, gallium arsenide stack  400  containing a textured back reflector may be fabricated during process  300 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 4A  depicts gallium arsenide cell  210  contained within gallium arsenide stack  400 . Gallium arsenide cell  210  includes upper portion  208  disposed on or over lower portion  206  and has upper surface  202 . Lower portion  206  and upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may each independently contain a single layer or multiple layers of various materials. 
         [0076]    In some embodiments, lower portion  206  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be an n-type gallium arsenide stack while upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be a p-type gallium arsenide stack. In one embodiment, lower portion  206  may contain be n-type materials, such as a contact layer, a passivation layer, and an emitter layer. In one example, lower portion  206  may contain an n-type gallium arsenide emitter layer disposed on or over a front window (e.g., a passivation layer) disposed on or over an n-type gallium arsenide contact layer. In another embodiment, upper portion  208  may contain be p-type materials, such as an absorber layer, a passivation layer, and a contact layer. In one example, upper portion  208  may contain may contain a p-type gallium arsenide contact layer disposed on or over a rear window (e.g., a passivation layer) disposed on or over a p-type gallium arsenide absorber layer. 
         [0077]    Step  310  of process  300  includes forming or depositing at least one metallic layer on a gallium arsenide material or gallium arsenide cell, such as depositing metallic layer  230  on upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , as depicted in  FIG. 4C . Metallic layer  230  may be deposited by a vapor deposition process, such as a vacuum evaporation process, a PVD or sputtering process, a CVD process, or an ALD process. Metallic layer  230  may be deposited at a temperature within a range from about 18° C. to about 50° C., preferably, from about 20° C. to about 30° C., and more preferably, from about 22° C. to about 25° C. Alternatively, metallic layer  230  may be deposited at higher temperatures, such as at temperatures greater than 50° C., for example, at temperatures of about 100° C. or greater, about 200° C. or greater, about 300° C. or greater, about 400° C. or greater, or greater than about 500° C. 
         [0078]    Metallic layer  230  may contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In one example, metallic layer  230  contains silver or a silver alloy. In other examples, metallic layer  230  may contain copper, copper alloys, gold, gold alloys, or combinations thereof. Metallic layer  230  may have a thickness within a range from about 2 nm to about 50 nm, preferably, from about 4 nm to about 40 nm, more preferably, from about 5 nm to about 30 nm, and more preferably, from about 10 nm to about 20 nm. 
         [0079]    Step  320  of process  300  includes forming an array of metallic islands from the metallic layer onto a gallium arsenide material or gallium arsenide cell during an annealing process, as described in another embodiment herein. Alternatively, the array of metallic islands may be deposited directly onto the gallium arsenide material or gallium arsenide cell. 
         [0080]    The method may include exposing metallic layer  230  or gallium arsenide stack  400  to nitrogen gas within a processing system and heating metallic layer  230  containing silver to a temperature of about 200° C. or greater during the annealing process. Metallic islands  232  are formed due to the film dewetting and agglomeration of metallic layer  230 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 4C  depicts an array of metallic islands  232  formed from metallic layer  230  and formed on upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . The array of metallic islands  232  are spaced apart to form gaps  234  therebetween. Gaps may be separated a distance  238 . Generally, metallic islands  232  may have an average particle diameter, such as diameter  236 . 
         [0082]    In another embodiment, metallic islands  232  usually contain the same material as metallic layer  230 . Therefore, metallic islands  232  may contain at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, metallic islands  232  may contain silver, copper, or gold. In one example, metallic islands  232  contain silver or a silver alloy. In other examples, metallic islands  232  may contain copper, copper alloys, gold, gold alloys, or combinations thereof. 
         [0083]    In some embodiments, each metallic island  232  may have diameter  228  within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each metallic island  232  may have a thickness within a range from about 20 nm to about 100 nm, preferably, from about 30 nm to about 80 nm, and more preferably, from about 45 nm to about 60 nm. 
         [0084]    In some examples, each metallic island  232  may be spaced apart from a neighboring metallic island  232  at distance  236  within a range from about 50 nm to about 1,000 nm, such as from about 100 nm to about 700 nm, or such as from about 150 nm to about 500 nm. The array of metallic islands  232  may have a surface density/concentration of about 1 metallic island per about 0.3 μm 2 . 
         [0085]    Step  330  of process  300  includes removing or etching material from upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , between metallic islands  232 , to form apertures  224  extending into upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , as depicted in  FIG. 4D . At step  330 , upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be exposed to a gas or plasma during a dry etching process, such as the RIE process. During the dry etching process, gallium arsenide material is exposed to the reactive gas or plasma and removed from upper portion  208  to form apertures  224 . The gallium arsenide material may be exposed to etch gases or plasmas containing XeF 2 , SF 6 , C 4 F 8 , derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Etch gases and plasmas may further contain other reagent gases or carrier gases. Exemplary carrier gases may include argon, helium, neon, xenon, hydrogen, nitrogen, or combinations thereof. 
         [0086]    The depth or length of apertures  224  may have a length  244 . Length  244  is both the depth of each aperture  224  as well as the length of each reflector protrusion  242 . Each aperture  224  may have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. In some embodiments, each aperture  224  may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 1,000 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 700 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 500 nm. 
         [0087]    In another embodiment described herein, upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be exposed to an etching solution or a dry etch during a second etching process to remove or etch the gallium arsenide material disposed therein while forming apertures  224 . In one example, upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be exposed to a piranha etch solution. The piranha etch solution—described in step  140  of Process  100 —may be used to etch both gallium arsenide materials as well as aluminum arsenide materials. The piranha etch solution contains at least sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and water. In one example, the piranha etch solution may be concentrated and may have a volumetric concentration ratio of sulfuric acid to hydrogen peroxide to water of about 1 to about 8 to about 100 (H 2 SO 4 :H 2 O 2 :H 2 O is about 1:8:100), and have an etch rate of about 300 nm/min. In another example, the piranha etch solution may be more dilute and may have a volumetric concentration ratio of sulfuric acid to hydrogen peroxide to water of about 1 to about 8 to about 500 (H 2 SO 4 :H 2 O 2 :H 2 O is about 1:8:500), and have an etch rate of about 60 nm/min. In another example, the piranha etch solution may be further diluted and may have a volumetric concentration ratio of sulfuric acid to hydrogen peroxide to water of about 1 to about 8 to about 1,000 (H 2 SO 4 :H 2 O 2 :H 2 O is about 1:8:1,000), and have an etch rate of about 30 nm/min. 
         [0088]    In another embodiment, upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  may be exposed to a citric acid etch solution for removing gallium arsenide material disposed within the contact layer, but not within a passivation layer containing aluminum arsenide, while extending apertures  224 . The citric acid etch solution may contain citric acid, ammonium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide. In one example, the citric acid etch solution may be formed by dissolving about 1.5 g citric acid in about 100 mL of H 2 O, add ammonium hydroxide solution until the pH reaches about 6.2, and subsequently add about 2 mL of H 2 O 2  in the solution. The citric acid etch solution etches gallium arsenide material but not the aluminum arsenide material, wherein Al x Ga 1-x As, and x≧about 0.2. Therefore, the citric acid etch solution may be used to etch through the contact layer containing gallium arsenide material, but stop etching at the passivation layer containing aluminum arsenide material—which could be etched by using a different etching solution, such as the above described piranha etch solution. 
         [0089]    Alternatively, the etching of the gallium arsenide by the citric acid etch solution could be followed by etching the aluminum arsenide (but not gallium arsenide) with an iodine-containing etch solution. The iodine etch solution may contain potassium iodine, iodine, sulfuric acid, and water. In one example, the iodine etch solution may have a concentration ratio by weight of potassium iodine to iodine to water to sulfuric acid of about 100 to about 60 to about 90 to about 250 (KI:I 2 :H 2 O:H 2 SO 4  is about 100:60:90:250). The iodine etch solution may be formed by combining potassium iodine, iodine, and water, then mix in equal parts of sulfuric acid as the pH is about 0.9. 
         [0090]    Step  340  of process  300  includes filling apertures  224  and covering any metallic islands  232  and exposed surfaces of upper portion  208  with at least one metal, while forming textured back reflector  250 , as depicted in  FIG. 4E . Textured back reflector  250  contains metallic reflector layer  240  and reflector protrusions  242 . Reflector protrusions  242  are formed as apertures  224  are filled with the metal. Similarly, metallic reflector layer  240  is formed as metallic islands  232  and exposed surfaces of upper portion  208  are covered with the metal. 
         [0091]      FIG. 4E  depicts gallium arsenide stack  400  containing textured back reflector  250  disposed on, over, and/or extending within upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , as described in some embodiments herein. Textured back reflector  250  contains metallic reflector layer  240  and reflector protrusions  242 . Metallic reflector layer  240  may be disposed on, over, or within upper portion  208  and a p-type gallium arsenide stack, such as on or over a contact layer within upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . Reflector protrusions  242  extend from metallic reflector layer  240  (e.g., a contact layer) and into a passivation layer (e.g., a rear window) within upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . 
         [0092]    Textured back reflector  250 , including metallic reflector layer  240  and/or reflector protrusions  242 , contains at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, metallic reflector layer  240  and/or reflector protrusions  242  contain silver, copper, or gold. Metallic reflector layer  240  may have a thickness within a range from about 15 nm to about 2,000 nm or greater. In some examples, the thickness of the metallic reflector layer may be from about 20 nm to about 750 nm, preferably, from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, and more preferably, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. Each reflector protrusions  242  may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each reflector protrusions  242  may also have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. Metallic islands  232 , metallic reflector layer  240 , and/or protrusions  242  are in ohmic electric contact with gallium arsenide cell  210 , such as upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 . 
         [0093]    In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 4F , adhesion layer  260  may be deposited or formed on or over gallium arsenide material, such as upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  and metallic islands  232  before depositing metallic reflector layer  240  and/or reflector protrusions  242 . Apertures  224  are formed within upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210  as depicted in  FIG. 4D . Thereafter, adhesion layer  260  may be formed on gallium arsenide stack  400  during optional step  335  in process  300 . Subsequently, metallic reflector layer  240  may be disposed on or over adhesion layer  260 , as depicted in  FIG. 4F  during step  340 . 
         [0094]    In one example, adhesion layer  260  may be disposed between gallium arsenide cell  210  or dielectric layer  220  and metallic reflector layer  240 . In another example, adhesion layer  260  may be disposed between gallium arsenide cell  210  or dielectric layer  220  and reflector protrusions  242 . Adhesion layer  260  may contain nickel, titanium, chromium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Adhesion layer  260  may have a thickness within a range from about 1 Å to about 20 Å. Adhesion layer  260  may be deposited by PVD, ALD, or CVD techniques. 
         [0095]    In another embodiment, gallium arsenide stack  400  containing textured back reflector  250  disposed on or over and extending into upper portion  208  of gallium arsenide cell  210 , as depicted in  FIG. 4E  may be the same thin film stack as gallium arsenide stack  500  containing textured back reflector  540  disposed on or over and extending into p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  of gallium arsenide cell  510 , as depicted in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0096]      FIGS. 5A-5D  depict a gallium arsenide stack during progressive stages of fabricating another textured back reflector on a gallium arsenide cell, according to other embodiments described herein.  FIG. 5A  depicts gallium arsenide stack  500  containing gallium arsenide cell  510  disposed on or over sacrificial layer  516  disposed on or over buffer layer  514  disposed on or over wafer  512 . In another embodiment, process  300  may be used to fabricate gallium arsenide stack  500  containing textured back reflector  540 . 
         [0097]    Wafer  512  may be a support substrate containing Group III/V materials, and may be doped with various elements. Generally wafer  512  contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and may be an n-doped substrate or a p-doped substrate. In many examples, wafer  512  is a gallium arsenide substrate or a gallium arsenide alloy substrate. The gallium arsenide substrate or wafer may have a thermal expansion coefficient of about 5.73×10 −6 ° C. −1 . 
         [0098]    Buffer layer  514  may be a gallium arsenide buffer layer which contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, dopants thereof, or derivatives thereof. Buffer layer  514  may have a thickness of 3,000 nm or greater. In one example, buffer layer  514  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm, such as about 200 nm or about 300 nm. 
         [0099]    Sacrificial layer  516 , also referred to as the ELO release layer, may contain aluminum arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Sacrificial layer  516  may have a thickness of about 20 nm or less. In some examples the thickness of sacrificial layer  516  may be within a range from about 1 nm to about 50 nm, such as from about 2 nm to about 40 nm, or in other examples, from about 5 nm to about 20 nm, such as from about 8 nm to about 12 nm, for example, about 10 nm. 
         [0100]    Gallium arsenide cell  510  further contains n-type gallium arsenide stack  520  coupled with or to p-type gallium arsenide stack  530 . The n-type gallium arsenide stack  520  usually contains multiples layers of various n-type doped materials. In one embodiment, n-type gallium arsenide stack  520  contains emitter layer  526  coupled with or to passivation layer  524 , coupled with or to contact layer  522 . In some embodiments, the n-type gallium arsenide stack  520  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 2,000 nm. In one example, n-type gallium arsenide stack has a thickness of about 200 nm, and in another example, within a range from about 700 nm to about 1,200 nm. 
         [0101]    Contact layer  522  may be a gallium arsenide contact layer which contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, dopants thereof, or derivatives thereof. In some examples, contact layer  522  contains an n-type gallium arsenide material. Contact layer  522  may have a thickness within a range from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, such as about 10 nm or about 50 nm. 
         [0102]    Passivation layer  524 , also referred to as the front window, generally contains aluminum arsenide, indium gallium phosphide, aluminum gallium phosphide, aluminum indium phosphide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, passivation layer  524  contains an n-type aluminum arsenide material. In one example, passivation layer  524  contains an n-type aluminum arsenide material having the chemical formula of Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As. Passivation layer  524  may have a thickness within a range from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, such as about 10 nm or about 50 nm. 
         [0103]    Emitter layer  526  may contain gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, emitter layer  526  contains an n-type gallium arsenide material. Emitter layer  526  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 2,000 nm. In some examples the thickness of emitter layer  526  may be within a range from about 100 nm to about 600 nm, such as from about 200 nm to about 400 nm, or in other examples, from about 600 nm to about 1,200 nm, such as from about 800 nm to about 1,000 nm. 
         [0104]    The p-type gallium arsenide layer or stack  530  usually contains multiples layers of various p-type doped materials. In one embodiment, p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  contains contact layer  536  coupled with or to passivation layer  534 , coupled with or to absorber layer  532 . In an alternative embodiment, absorber layer  532  is absent from p-type gallium arsenide stack  530 . Therefore, p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  contains contact layer  536  coupled with or to passivation layer  534 , and passivation layer  534  may be coupled with or to n-type gallium arsenide stack  520 , emitter layer  526 , or another layer. In some embodiments, the p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 3,000 nm. 
         [0105]    Absorber layer  532  may contain gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, absorber layer  532  contains a p-type gallium arsenide material. In some examples, absorber layer  532  contains an n-type aluminum arsenide material. In some embodiments, absorber layer  532  may have a thickness within a range from about 1 nm to about 3,000 nm. In one embodiment, absorber layer  532  may contain a p-type gallium arsenide material and may have a thickness from about 500 nm to about 3,000 nm, such as from about 1,000 nm to about 1,500 nm. In one embodiment, absorber layer  532  may contain an n-type gallium arsenide material and may have a thickness from about 400 nm to about 2,000 nm, such as from about 700 nm to about 1,200 nm. 
         [0106]    Passivation layer  534 , also referred to as the rear window, generally contains aluminum arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, passivation layer  534  contains a p-type aluminum arsenide material. In one example, passivation layer  534  contains a p-type aluminum arsenide material having the chemical formula of Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As. Passivation layer  534  may have a thickness within a range from about 25 nm to about 500 nm, such as about 50 nm or about 300 nm. 
         [0107]    Contact layer  536  may be a p-type gallium arsenide contact layer which contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, dopants thereof, or derivatives thereof. In some examples, contact layer  536  contains a p-type gallium arsenide material. Contact layer  536  may have a thickness within a range from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, such as about 10 nm or about 50 nm. 
         [0108]      FIG. 5B  depicts gallium arsenide stack  500  containing textured back reflector  540  disposed on gallium arsenide cell  510 , as described in some embodiments herein. Textured back reflector  540  contains metallic reflector layer  542  and reflector protrusions  544 . Metallic reflector layer  542  may be disposed on or over p-type gallium arsenide stack  530 , such as on or over contact layer  536 . Reflector protrusions  544  extend from metallic reflector layer  542 , through contact layer  536 , and into passivation layer  534 , such as the rear window. In another embodiment, an adhesion layer (not shown) may be formed between gallium arsenide cell  510  and textured back reflector  540 . 
         [0109]    Textured back reflector  540 , including metallic reflector layer  542  and/or reflector protrusions  544 , contains at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, metallic reflector layer  542  and/or reflector protrusions  544  contain silver, copper, or gold. Metallic reflector layer  542  may have a thickness within a range from about 15 nm to about 2,000 nm or greater. In some examples, the thickness of the metallic reflector layer may be from about 20 nm to about 750 nm, preferably, from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, and more preferably, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. Each reflector protrusions  544  may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each reflector protrusions  544  may also have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. 
         [0110]      FIG. 5C  depicts gallium arsenide stack  500  containing support substrate  550  disposed on or over textured back reflector  540 , as described in other embodiments herein. Support substrate  550  is generally translucent and may be rigid. Support substrate  550  may contain glass, quartz, crystalline material, polymeric or oligomeric material, such as plastic, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In one example, support substrate  550  contains a glass. In another example, support substrate  550  contains a plastic, such as polyester or derivatives thereof. 
         [0111]    In some embodiments, support substrate  550  may be adhered to or otherwise attached with textured back reflector  540  by metal to metal direct bonding therebetween. In one example, support substrate  550  may be adhered to or attached with textured back reflector  540  by solder, which forms a solder layer, such as layer  548 . Solders may include tin containing solder, lead containing solder, tin-lead containing solder, bismuth containing solder, as well as others. Therefore, layer  548  may contain tin, lead, bismuth, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. 
         [0112]    In another example, support substrate  550  may be adhered to or attached with textured back reflector  540  by a metallic foil or film, which forms a metallic layer, such as layer  548 . Metallic foils may include copper foil and copper alloy foils, as well as others. Therefore, layer  548  may copper or copper alloys. The metallic foil may be disposed between support substrate  550  and textured back reflector  540  and subsequently exposed to increased pressure and/or heat to form layer  548 . In some examples, a copper foil may be disposed between support substrate  550  and textured back reflector  540  and exposed to a temperature within a range from about 18° C. to about 400° C. while at a pressure within a range from about 15 psi (pounds per square inch) to about 300 psi. 
         [0113]    In other embodiments, support substrate  550  may be adhered to or otherwise attached with textured back reflector  540  by bonding therebetween with an adhesive to form an adhesive layer, such as layer  548 . In one example, layer  548  may be formed from or contain a natural adhesive, a synthetic adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, an optical adhesive and/or an ultraviolet (UV) curable adhesive, such as commercially available as Norland UV-curable optical adhesive. In some examples, the adhesive may contain a mercapto ester compound. In other examples, the adhesive may further contain a material such as butyl octyl phthalate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, acrylate monomer, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. 
         [0114]    In one example, layer  548  may be formed from adhesive that has been exposed to UV radiation during a curing process. Generally, the adhesive may be exposed to the UV radiation for a time period within a range from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, preferably, from about 3 minutes to about 7 minutes, such as about 5 minutes. The adhesive may be cured at a temperature within a range from about 25° C. to about 75° C., such as about 50° C. 
         [0115]    In other examples, the adhesive of layer  548  may be a silicone adhesive or may contain sodium silicate. In these examples, the adhesive may be cured for a time period within a range from about 10 hours to about 100 hours, preferably, from about 20 hours to about 60 hours, and more preferably, from about 30 hours to about 50 hours, for example, about 42 hours. The adhesive may be cured at a temperature within a range from about 25° C. to about 75° C., such as about 50° C. Also the adhesive may be cured at a pressure within a range from about 1 psi (pounds per square inch) to about 50 psi, preferably, from about 3 psi to about 25 psi, and more preferably, from about 5 psi to about 15 psi. In one example, the pressure may be about 9 psi. 
         [0116]      FIG. 5D  depicts gallium arsenide stack  500  subsequent an ELO process, such that gallium arsenide cell  510  is separated or removed from buffer layer  514  and wafer  512 . Gallium arsenide stack  500  still contains gallium arsenide cell  510 , as well as support substrate  550  disposed on or over textured back reflector  540 , as described in other embodiments herein. 
         [0117]      FIGS. 6A-6D  depict gallium arsenide stack  600  similar to gallium arsenide stack  500  depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5D , except gallium arsenide stack  600  contains dielectric layer  620  disposed between gallium arsenide cell  510  and textured back reflector  540 .  FIG. 6A  depicts dielectric layer  620  deposited and in physical contact with gallium arsenide cell  510 , such as p-type gallium arsenide stack  530 , as described in one embodiment herein. In another embodiment, process  100  may be used to fabricate gallium arsenide stack  600  containing textured back reflector  540 . 
         [0118]      FIGS. 6B-6D  depict gallium arsenide stack  600  containing textured back reflector  540  disposed on, over, and/or through dielectric layer  620 . Textured back reflector  540  contains metallic reflector layer  542  and reflector protrusions  544 . Metallic reflector layer  542  may be disposed on or over dielectric layer  620 , as well as p-type gallium arsenide stack  530 , such as on or over contact layer  536 . Reflector protrusions  544  extend from metallic reflector layer  542 , through dielectric layer  620  and contact layer  536 , and into passivation layer  534 , such as the rear window. 
         [0119]    Textured back reflector  540 , including metallic reflector layer  542  and/or reflector protrusions  544 , contains at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, metallic reflector layer  542  and/or reflector protrusions  544  contain silver, copper, or gold. Metallic reflector layer  542  may have a thickness within a range from about 15 nm to about 2,000 nm or greater. In some examples, the thickness of the metallic reflector layer may be from about 20 nm to about 750 nm, preferably, from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, and more preferably, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. Each reflector protrusions  544  may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each reflector protrusions  544  may also have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. 
         [0120]    In an alternative embodiment, an adhesion layer (not shown) may be deposited or formed on p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  or dielectric layer  620  before depositing metallic reflector layer  542  and/or reflector protrusions  544 . In one example, the adhesion layer may be disposed between the p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  or dielectric layer  620  and metallic reflector layer  542 . In another example, the adhesion layer may be disposed between p-type gallium arsenide stack  530  or dielectric layer  620  and reflector protrusions  544 . The adhesion layer may contain nickel, titanium, chromium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. The adhesion layer may have a thickness within a range from about 1 Å to about 20 Å. The adhesion layer may be deposited by PVD, ALD, or CVD techniques. 
         [0121]    In one embodiment, dielectric layer  620  may be formed by a vapor deposition process. The vapor deposition process may include CVD, PE-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, and PVD processes. In some embodiments, dielectric layer  620  contains a dielectric material with a refractive index within a range from about 1 to about 3. Dielectric layer  620  may contain at least one dielectric material such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, dopant variants thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many embodiments, dielectric layer  620  contains at least one dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, dopant variants thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In one example, dielectric layer  620  contains silicon oxide. In another example, dielectric layer  620  contains silicon oxynitride. Dielectric layer  620  may have a thickness within a range from about 10 nm to about 150 nm, preferably, from about 20 nm to about 100 nm, and more preferably, from about 30 nm to about 80 nm. 
         [0122]    In other embodiments, dielectric layer  620  contains a dielectric material that is completely or substantially resistant to being etched when exposed to hydrofluoric acid during an ELO process. Dielectric material contained within dielectric layer  620  and which is resistant to hydrofluoric acid includes zinc sulfide, silicon nitride, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. 
         [0123]    In other embodiments, a method for forming a thin film material, such as gallium arsenide stack  500 , during an ELO process is provided which includes depositing or otherwise forming textured back reflector  540  on or over an epitaxial material, such as gallium arsenide cell  510 , or alternatively, on or over a dielectric material disposed on gallium arsenide cell  510 . Gallium arsenide cell  510  is disposed on or over a sacrificial or removable layer, such as sacrificial layer  516 , on a substrate, such as wafer  512 . A buffering layer, such as buffer layer  514  may be disposed between wafer  512  and sacrificial layer  516 . The method provides adhering a substrate support or handle, such as substrate support  550  onto gallium arsenide cell  510 , removing sacrificial layer  516  during an etching process, and peeling gallium arsenide stack  500  from buffer layer  514  while forming an etch crevice therebetween during the etching process. Gallium arsenide stack  500  contains textured back reflector  540  disposed on gallium arsenide cell  510 , as depicted in  FIG. 5D . 
         [0124]    In one embodiment, sacrificial layer  516  may be exposed to a wet etch solution during an etching process of the ELO process to remove epitaxial material  630  from buffer layer  514  and wafer  512 . In some embodiments, sacrificial layer  516  may be exposed to a wet etch solution during the etching process. The wet etch solution contains hydrofluoric acid and may contain a surfactant and/or a buffer. In some examples, sacrificial layer  516  may be etched at a rate of about 0.3 mm/hr or greater, preferably, about 1 mm/hr or greater, and more preferably, about 5 mm/hr or greater. 
         [0125]      FIGS. 7A-7E  depict a gallium arsenide stack during progressive stages of fabricating another textured back reflector on a gallium arsenide cell, according to other embodiments described herein.  FIG. 7A  depicts gallium arsenide stack  700  containing gallium arsenide cell  710  coupled with or to sacrificial layer  716  coupled with or to buffer layer  714  coupled with or to wafer  712 . Gallium arsenide stack  700  containing gallium arsenide cell  710  is similar to gallium arsenide stack  500  ( FIGS. 5A-5D ) however the layers of gallium arsenide cell  710  are disposed in reverse order relative to the layers of gallium arsenide cell  510 . Therefore, gallium arsenide cell  710  contains p-type gallium arsenide stack  730  coupled with sacrificial layer  716  and disposed between wafer  712  and n-type gallium arsenide stack  720 , while gallium arsenide cell  510  contains n-type gallium arsenide stack  520  coupled with sacrificial layer  516  and disposed between wafer  512  and p-type gallium arsenide stack  530 . 
         [0126]    Wafer  712  may be a support substrate containing Group III/V materials, and may be doped with various elements. Generally wafer  712  contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and may be an n-doped substrate or a p-doped substrate. In many examples, wafer  712  is a gallium arsenide substrate or a gallium arsenide alloy substrate. The gallium arsenide substrate or wafer may have a thermal expansion coefficient of about 5.73×10 −6 ° C. −1 . 
         [0127]    Buffer layer  714  may be a gallium arsenide buffer layer which contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, dopants thereof, or derivatives thereof. Buffer layer  714  may have a thickness of 3,000 nm or greater. In one example, buffer layer  714  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 700 nm, such as about 200 nm or about 300 nm. 
         [0128]    Sacrificial layer  716 , also referred to as the ELO release layer, may contain aluminum arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Sacrificial layer  716  may have a thickness of about 20 nm or less. In some examples the thickness of sacrificial layer  716  may be within a range from about 1 nm to about 70 nm, such as from about 2 nm to about 40 nm, or in other examples, from about 5 nm to about 20 nm, such as from about 8 nm to about 12 nm, for example, about 10 nm. 
         [0129]    Gallium arsenide cell  710  further contains n-type gallium arsenide stack  720  coupled with or to p-type gallium arsenide stack  730 . The n-type gallium arsenide stack  720  usually contains multiples layers of various n-type doped materials. In one embodiment, n-type gallium arsenide stack  720  contains emitter layer  726  coupled with or to passivation layer  724 , coupled with or to contact layer  722 . In some embodiments, the n-type gallium arsenide stack  720  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 2,000 nm. In one example, n-type gallium arsenide stack has a thickness of about 200 nm, and in another example, within a range from about 700 nm to about 1,200 nm. 
         [0130]    Contact layer  722  may be a gallium arsenide contact layer which contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, dopants thereof, or derivatives thereof. In some examples, contact layer  722  contains an n-type gallium arsenide material. Contact layer  722  may have a thickness within a range from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, such as about 10 nm or about 70 nm. 
         [0131]    Passivation layer  724 , also referred to as the front window, generally contains aluminum arsenide, indium gallium phosphide, aluminum gallium phosphide, aluminum indium phosphide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, passivation layer  724  contains an n-type aluminum arsenide material. In one example, passivation layer  724  contains an n-type aluminum arsenide material having the chemical formula of Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As. Passivation layer  724  may have a thickness within a range from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, such as about 10 nm or about 70 nm. 
         [0132]    Emitter layer  726  may contain gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, emitter layer  726  contains an n-type gallium arsenide material. Emitter layer  726  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 2,000 nm. In some examples the thickness of emitter layer  726  may be within a range from about 100 nm to about 600 nm, such as from about 200 nm to about 400 nm, or in other examples, from about 600 nm to about 1,200 nm, such as from about 800 nm to about 1,000 nm. 
         [0133]    The p-type gallium arsenide layer or stack  730  usually contains multiples layers of various p-type doped materials. In one embodiment, p-type gallium arsenide stack  730  contains contact layer  736  disposed on or over passivation layer  734 , disposed on or over absorber layer  732 . In an alternative embodiment, absorber layer  732  is absent from p-type gallium arsenide stack  730 . Therefore, p-type gallium arsenide stack  730  contains contact layer  736  disposed on or over passivation layer  734 , and passivation layer  734  may be disposed on or over n-type gallium arsenide stack  720 , emitter layer  726 , or another layer. In some embodiments, the p-type gallium arsenide stack  730  may have a thickness within a range from about 100 nm to about 3,000 nm. 
         [0134]    Absorber layer  732  may contain gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, absorber layer  732  contains a p-type gallium arsenide material. In some examples, absorber layer  732  contains an n-type aluminum arsenide material. In some embodiments, absorber layer  732  may have a thickness within a range from about 1 nm to about 3,000 nm. In one embodiment, absorber layer  732  may contain a p-type gallium arsenide material and may have a thickness from about 700 nm to about 3,000 nm, such as from about 1,000 nm to about 1,700 nm. In one embodiment, absorber layer  732  may contain an n-type gallium arsenide material and may have a thickness from about 400 nm to about 2,000 nm, such as from about 700 nm to about 1,200 nm. 
         [0135]    Passivation layer  734 , also referred to as the rear window, generally contains aluminum arsenide, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In many examples, passivation layer  734  contains a p-type aluminum arsenide material. In one example, passivation layer  734  contains a p-type aluminum arsenide material having the chemical formula of Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As. Passivation layer  734  may have a thickness within a range from about 25 nm to about 700 nm, such as about 70 nm or about 300 nm. 
         [0136]    Contact layer  736  may be a p-type gallium arsenide contact layer which contains gallium arsenide, alloys thereof, dopants thereof, or derivatives thereof. In some examples, contact layer  736  contains a p-type gallium arsenide material. Contact layer  736  may have a thickness within a range from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, such as about 10 nm or about 70 nm. 
         [0137]      FIG. 7B  depicts support handle  702  coupled with or attached to gallium arsenide cell  710 , as described in some embodiments herein. Support handle  702  is attached to n-type gallium arsenide stack  720  by contact layer  722 . 
         [0138]      FIG. 7C  depicts gallium arsenide stack  700  subsequent an ELO process, such that gallium arsenide cell  710  is separated or removed from buffer layer  714  and wafer  712 . Gallium arsenide stack  700  still contains gallium arsenide cell  710 , as well as support handle  702  disposed thereon, as described in other embodiments herein. 
         [0139]      FIG. 7D  depicts gallium arsenide stack  700  containing textured back reflector  740  disposed on gallium arsenide cell  710 , as described in some embodiments herein. Textured back reflector  740  contains metallic reflector layer  742  and reflector protrusions  744 . Metallic reflector layer  742  may be disposed on or over p-type gallium arsenide stack  730 , such as on or over contact layer  736 . Reflector protrusions  744  extend from metallic reflector layer  742 , through contact layer  736 , and into passivation layer  734 , such as the rear window. 
         [0140]    Textured back reflector  740 , including metallic reflector layer  742  and/or reflector protrusions  744 , contains at least one metal, such as silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In specific examples, metallic reflector layer  742  and/or reflector protrusions  744  contain silver, copper, or gold. Metallic reflector layer  742  may have a thickness within a range from about 15 nm to about 2,000 nm or greater. In some examples, the thickness of metallic reflector layer  742  may have a thickness within a range from about 15 nm to about 2,000 nm or greater. In some examples, the thickness of metallic reflector layer  742  may be from about 20 nm to about 750 nm, preferably, from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, and more preferably, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. Each reflector protrusions  744  may have a diameter within a range from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, preferably, from about 100 nm to about 400 nm, and more preferably, from about 150 nm to about 300 nm. Each reflector protrusions  744  may also have a length within a range from about 30 nm to about 300 nm, such as from about 60 nm to about 160 nm. 
         [0141]      FIG. 7E  depicts gallium arsenide stack  700  containing support substrate  750  disposed on or over textured back reflector  740 , as described in other embodiments herein. Support substrate  750  is generally translucent and may be rigid. Support substrate  750  may contain glass, quartz, crystalline material, polymeric or oligomeric material, such as plastic, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. In one example, support substrate  750  contains a glass. In another example, support substrate  750  contains a plastic, such as polyester or derivatives thereof. 
         [0142]    In some embodiments, support substrate  750  may be adhered to or otherwise attached with textured back reflector  740  by metal to metal direct bonding therebetween. In one example, support substrate  750  may be adhered to or attached with textured back reflector  740  by solder, which forms a solder layer, such as layer  748 . Solders may include tin containing solder, lead containing solder, tin-lead containing solder, bismuth containing solder, as well as others. Therefore, layer  748  may contain tin, lead, bismuth, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. 
         [0143]    In another example, support substrate  750  may be adhered to or attached with textured back reflector  740  by a metallic foil or film, which forms a metallic layer, such as layer  748 . Metallic foils may include copper foil and copper alloy foils, as well as others. Therefore, layer  748  may copper or copper alloys. The metallic foil may be disposed between support substrate  750  and textured back reflector  740  and subsequently exposed to increased pressure and/or heat to form layer  748 . In some examples, a copper foil may be disposed between support substrate  750  and textured back reflector  740  and exposed to a temperature within a range from about 18° C. to about 400° C. while at a pressure within a range from about 15 psi (pounds per square inch) to about 300 psi. 
         [0144]    In other embodiments, support substrate  750  may be adhered to or otherwise attached with textured back reflector  740  by bonding therebetween with an adhesive to form an adhesive layer, such as layer  748 . In one example, layer  748  may be formed from or contain a natural adhesive, a synthetic adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, an optical adhesive and/or an ultraviolet (UV) curable adhesive, such as commercially available as Norland UV-curable optical adhesive. In some examples, the adhesive may contain a mercapto ester compound. In other examples, the adhesive may further contain a material such as butyl octyl phthalate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, acrylate monomer, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. 
         [0145]    In one example, layer  748  may be formed from adhesive that has been exposed to UV radiation during a curing process. Generally, the adhesive may be exposed to the UV radiation for a time period within a range from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, preferably, from about 3 minutes to about 7 minutes, such as about 5 minutes. The adhesive may be cured at a temperature within a range from about 25° C. to about 75° C., such as about 70° C. 
         [0146]    In other examples, the adhesive of layer  748  may be a silicone adhesive or may contain sodium silicate. In these examples, the adhesive may be cured for a time period within a range from about 10 hours to about 100 hours, preferably, from about 20 hours to about 60 hours, and more preferably, from about 30 hours to about 70 hours, for example, about 42 hours. The adhesive may be cured at a temperature within a range from about 25° C. to about 75° C., such as about 70° C. Also the adhesive may be cured at a pressure within a range from about 1 psi (pounds per square inch) to about 70 psi, preferably, from about 3 psi to about 25 psi, and more preferably, from about 5 psi to about 15 psi. In one example, the pressure may be about 9 psi. 
         [0147]    In another embodiment, process  300  may be used to fabricate gallium arsenide stack  700  containing textured back reflector  740 . 
         [0148]      FIG. 8  depict gallium arsenide stack  800  similar to gallium arsenide stack  700  depicted in  FIGS. 7A-7E  except gallium arsenide stack  800  contains dielectric layer  820  disposed between gallium arsenide cell  710  and textured back reflector  740 .  FIG. 8  depicts dielectric layer  820  deposited and in physical contact with gallium arsenide cell  710 , such as p-type gallium arsenide stack  730 , as described in one embodiment herein. In another embodiment, process  100  may be used to fabricate gallium arsenide stack  800  containing textured back reflector  740 . 
         [0149]    In alternative embodiments, gallium arsenide cells  510  and  710  may contain one layer, but usually contains multiple layers of epitaxial materials, such as gallium arsenide, n-doped gallium arsenide, p-doped gallium arsenide, aluminum arsenide, n-doped aluminum arsenide, p-doped aluminum arsenide, aluminum indium phosphide, aluminum gallium phosphide, aluminum arsenide, indium gallium phosphide, alloys thereof, n-doped variants, p-doped variants, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. Gallium arsenide cells  510  and  710  may have a rectangular geometry, a square geometry, or other geometries. In some examples, gallium arsenide cells  510  and  710  contain a layer having gallium arsenide and another layer having aluminum arsenide. In another example, gallium arsenide cells  510  and  710  contain a gallium arsenide buffer layer, an aluminum arsenide passivation layer, and a gallium arsenide active layer. 
         [0150]      FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart depicting process  900  for forming another back reflector according to other embodiments described herein. In step  910  of process  900 , an array of resistive particles is disposed on the upper surface of a thin film stack, such as on a dielectric material or a gallium arsenide material disposed thereon. The resistive particles may be randomly distributed across the upper surface of the stack, such as in a close packed space alignment. The resistive particles may be dip-coated, spin-coated, or otherwise dry-coated on to the upper surface from an emulsion or suspension containing a liquid carrier. 
         [0151]    The resistive particles may contain a polymeric material, oligomeric material, or derivatives thereof. In some examples, the resistive particles contain polystyrene, polysiloxanes, or derivatives thereof. In other embodiments, the resistive particles may be formed by a spin-on process, such as spin-on glass (SOG) or other materials. SOG materials may contain a mixture of silicon oxide and dopants (e.g., boron or phosphorous). The resistive particles may be beads or nanoparticles which have a particle size within a range from about 0.005 μm to about 5 μm, preferably, from about 0.01 μm to about 1 μm, and more preferably, from about 0.05 μm to about 0.5 μm. Resistive particles which are useful in embodiments described herein may be SPHERO™ polystyrene particles, such as PP-008-010 and PP025-10, commercially available from Spherotech, Inc. of Lake Forest, Ill. In one example, polystyrene particles are suspended at a concentration of about 5.0 w/v and have a nominal particle size within a range from about 0.05 μm to about 0.1 μm. In another example, polystyrene particles are suspended at a concentration of about 5.0 w/v and have a nominal particle size within a range from about 0.2 μm to about 0.3 μm. 
         [0152]    In step  920 , the exposed surfaces of the dielectric material and/or the gallium arsenide material between the resistive particles are etched to form apertures therebetween. 
         [0153]    In step  930 , the resistive particles are removed from the upper surface of the thin film stack—such as the dielectric or gallium arsenide material. 
         [0154]    In step  940 , a metallic reflector layer is deposited within the apertures and on the upper surface in order to fill the apertures and to cover the dielectric or gallium arsenide material. The filled apertures form the reflector protrusions of the metallic reflector. 
         [0155]    While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8