Solar cell with reduced base diffusion area

US8664519B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SUNPOWER CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Denis De Ceuster · Woodside, US
• Peter John Cousins · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 2011
• Grant date: Mar 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Jan 9, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/547

Abstract

In one embodiment, a solar cell has base and emitter diffusion regions formed on the back side. The emitter diffusion region is configured to collect minority charge carriers in the solar cell, while the base diffusion region is configured to collect majority charge carriers. The emitter diffusion region may be a continuous region separating the base diffusion regions. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a reduced area to decrease minority charge carrier recombination losses without substantially increasing series resistance losses due to lateral flow of majority charge carriers. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a dot shape, for example.