Grid-line-free contact for a photovoltaic cell

US8669466B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Supratik Guha · Croton-on-Hudson, US
• Yves Martin · Ossining, US
• Naim Moumen · Walden, US
• Robert L. Sandstrom · Chestnut Ridge, US
• Theodore G. van Kessel · Millbrook, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 1, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 11, 2014
• Expiry date: Feb 1, 2032

Classification

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

Abstract

Electrical contact to the front side of a photovoltaic cell is provided by an array of conductive through-substrate vias, and optionally, an array of conductive blocks located on the front side of the photovoltaic cell. A dielectric liner provides electrical isolation of each conductive through-substrate via from the semiconductor material of the photovoltaic cell. A dielectric layer on the backside of the photovoltaic cell is patterned to cover a contiguous region including all of the conductive through-substrate vias, while exposing a portion of the backside of the photovoltaic cell. A conductive material layer is deposited on the back surface of the photovoltaic cell, and is patterned to form a first conductive wiring structure that electrically connects the conductive through-substrate vias and a second conductive wiring structure that provides electrical connection to the backside of the photovoltaic cell.