Solar cell and process of manufacturing the same

US6384317B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• IMEC VZW · BE

Inventors

• Emmanuel Van Kerschaver · Knokke, BE
• Jozef Szlufcik · Kessel-Lo, BE
• Roland Einhaus · Bourgoin-Jallieu, FR
• Johan Nijs · Holsbeek, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 3, 2000
• Grant date: May 7, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 3, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50

Abstract

The solar cell in the semiconductor substrate includes at least a radiation receiving front surface and a second surface. The substrate includes a first region of one type of conductivity and a second region of the opposite conductivity type with at least a first part located adjacent to the front surface and a second part located adjacent to the second surface. The front surface includes conductive contacts to the second region and the second surface has separated contacts to the first region and to the second region. The contacts to the second region at the second surface are connected to the contacts at the front surface through a limited number of vias.