Patent · US Active

Methods of forming semiconductor solar cells having front surface electrodes

US7964499B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
10References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2009
Grant dateJun 21, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 30, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/547

Abstract

Solar cells include a substrate having a light collecting surface thereon and a P-N rectifying junction within the substrate. The P-N rectifying junction includes a base region of first conductivity type (e.g., p-type) and a semiconductor layer of second conductivity type extending between the base region and the light collecting surface. A trench is also provided, which extends through the semiconductor layer and into the base region. First and second electrodes are provided adjacent the light collecting surface. The first electrode is electrically coupled to the semiconductor layer and the second electrode is electrically coupled to the base region, at a location adjacent a bottom of the trench.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.