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International audienceThermal Atomic Layer Deposition was used to deposit Al2O3 layers with thickness ranging from 2 to 100 nm for surface passivation of silicon solar cells. Various characterization techniques were used to evaluate the chemical, physical and optical properties of the layers and interfaces. Minority carrier lifetime around 2 ms was measured for an optimal thickness of 15 nm for as-deposited layers on high resistivity n-type silicon substrate. An annealing step at 400 degrees C increases lifetime up to 5.7ms for the same structure