IP Library Granted Patent US 8,354,585
Granted Patent B2
US 8,354,585 · App. 12/582,037 · Granted Jan 15, 2013

Solar cell and method of fabricating the same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,354,585
App. No.
12/582,037
Granted
Jan 15, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; uneven patterns disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first impurity layer disposed on the uneven patterns and which includes a first part having a first doping concentration and a second part having a second doping concentration greater than the first doping concentration; and a first electrode which contacts the second part of the first impurity layer and does not contact the first part of the first impurity layer.

Claims (42)

1. A solar cell comprising:

a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

uneven patterns disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor substrate;

a first impurity layer disposed on the uneven patterns and which comprises:

a first part having a first doping concentration; and

a second part having a second doping concentration which is greater than the first doping concentration;

an insulating layer disposed on the first part of the first impurity layer and which exposes the second part of the first impurity layer therethrough; and

a first electrode which contacts the second part of the first impurity layer and does not contact the first part of the first impurity layer,

wherein the first electrode is disposed on the second part of the first impurity layer and the insulating layer, and

wherein the first electrode comprises a transparent electrode.

2. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer has a light transmission rate of about 85% to about 93%.

3. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer has a thickness of about 3 μm to about 4 μm.

4. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein cross sections of the uneven patterns have substantially triangular shapes of a uniform size.

5. The solar cell of claim 4 , wherein the uneven patterns have a cross sectional height of about 5 μm to about 7 μm.

6. The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising an intrinsic semiconductor layer disposed between the uneven patterns and the first impurity layer.

7. The solar cell of claim 6 , wherein the intrinsic semiconductor layer has a thickness of about 1 Å to 100 Å.

8. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein

the first impurity layer is amorphous, and

the semiconductor substrate comprises one of monocrystalline and polycrystalline.

9. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first impurity layer has a thickness of about 50 Å to about 100 Å.

10. The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second impurity layer disposed on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate; and

a second electrode disposed on the second impurity layer,

wherein the uneven patterns are disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate.

11. The solar cell of claim 10 , wherein

the semiconductor substrate has a first conductivity type, and

the first impurity layer has a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type.

12. The solar cell of claim 11 , wherein

the second electrode comprises one of a transparent electrode and a reflective electrode.

13. The solar cell of claim 10 , wherein the semiconductor substrate and the first impurity layer have a first conductivity type.

14. The solar cell of claim 13 , wherein

the second electrode comprises a transparent electrode.

15. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein

the uneven patterns comprise first uneven patterns disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and second uneven patterns disposed on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate which faces the first surface of the semiconductor substrate,

the semiconductor substrate has a first conductivity type,

the first impurity layer has a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, and

the first impurity layer and the first electrode are disposed on the first uneven patterns.

16. The solar cell of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second impurity layer disposed on the second uneven patterns, the second impurity layer having the first conductivity type and a uniform thickness and comprising:

a first part having a third doping concentration; and

a second part having a fourth doping concentration which is greater than the third doping concentration; and

a second electrode which contacts the second part of the second impurity layer and does not contact the first part of the second impurity layer.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028999/0398 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2011
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.; SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 026627/0129 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2009
From: OH, MIN-SEOK; LEE, BYOUNG-KYU; PARK, MIN; LEE, CZANG-HO; SHIN, MYUNG-HUN; NAM, YUK-HYUN; JUNG, SEUNG-JAE; LIM, MI-HWA; SEO, JOON-YOUNG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023395/0968 →