IP Library Granted Patent US 8,680,392
Granted Patent B2
US 8,680,392 · App. 13/564,438 · Granted Mar 25, 2014

Solar cell and method of manufacturing the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,680,392
App. No.
13/564,438
Granted
Mar 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The solar cell includes a substrate of a first conductive type having at least one via hole, an emitter layer of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type on the substrate, a first conductor electrically connected to the emitter layer, a second conductor electrically connected to the first conductor through the via hole, and a third conductor electrically connected to the substrate. The third conductor is electrically separated from the second conductor. A portion of the first conductor and a portion of the second conductor are positioned inside the via hole.

Claims (17)

1. A solar cell comprising:

a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type having at least one via hole, and including crystal silicon;

an emitter layer of a second conductive type forming a p-n junction with the semiconductor substrate, and directly positioned on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate and a second surface of the semiconductor substrate opposite the first surface;

a first conductor directly positioned on the emitter layer at the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a portion of the first conductor being positioned inside the at least one via hole;

a second conductor directly positioned on the emitter layer at the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a portion of the second conductor being positioned inside the at least one via hole; and

a third conductor positioned on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate and connected to the semiconductor substrate, the third conductor being physically separated from the second conductor and the emitter layer at the second surface of the semiconductor substrate,

wherein the first conductor directly contacts with the second conductor inside the at least one via hole of the semiconductor substrate and a material of the first conductor and a material of the second conductor are different.

2. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein one of the first conductor and the second conductor contains lead (Pb).

3. The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the first conductor contains Pb.

4. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein a height of the portion of the first conductor inside the at least one via hole is different from a height of the portion of the second conductor inside the at least one via hole.

5. The solar cell of claim 4 , wherein the second conductor and the third conductor are positioned on a same stratum.

6. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the at least one via hole of the semiconductor substrate comprises first and second portions,

the first portion of the at least one via hole is closer to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate than the second portion of the at least one via hole, and

an amount of Pb in the first portion of the at least one via hole is greater than an amount of Pb in the second portion of the at least one via hole.

7. The solar cell of claim 6 , wherein the second portion lacks Pb.

8. The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-reflection layer on the emitter layer and a portion of the at least one via hole.

9. The Solar cell of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the emitter layer is further formed inside the at least one via hole.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2024
From: SHANGRAO XINYUAN YUEDONG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.
To: TRINA SOLAR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066831/0802 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 19, 2023
From: SHANGRAO JINKO SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
To: SHANGRAO XINYUAN YUEDONG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD
Reel/Frame 066078/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: KANG, JUWAN; KO, JIHOON; KIM, JONGHWAN; JANG, DAEHEE
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 061855/0174 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2022
From: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
To: SHANGRAO JINKO SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 061572/0487 →