Low-cost solar cells and methods for fabricating low cost substrates for solar cells

US8796066B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SUNPREME · KY

Inventors

• Ashok Sinha · Palo Alto, US
• Wen Ma · Sunnyvale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 24, 2010
• Grant date: Aug 5, 2014
• Expiry date: Jan 27, 2033

Classification

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

Abstract

Substrates for solar cells are prepared by etching a plurality of metallurgical grade wafers; depositing aluminum layer on backside of each wafer; depositing a layer of hydrogenated silicon nitride on front surface of each wafer; annealing the wafers at elevated temperature; removing the hydrogenated silicon nitride without disturbing the aluminum layer. A solar cell is then fabricated on the front surface of the wafer while the aluminum remain to serve as the back contact of the cell.