IP Library Granted Patent US 9,082,901
Granted Patent B2
US 9,082,901 · App. 13/795,191 · Granted Jul 14, 2015

Solar cell and manufacturing method of the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,082,901
App. No.
13/795,191
Granted
Jul 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for manufacturing a solar cell, comprising steps of: a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a light-receiving side and a back side, wherein a passivation layer is formed on the back side; b) forming a silver conductor pattern on the back side of the semiconductor substrate; c) forming an aluminum conductor pattern on the back side of the semiconductor substrate, at least part of the aluminum conductor pattern being superimposed on at least part of the silver conductor pattern; and d) firing the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern at the same time, thereby forming an electric contact between the semiconductor substrate and the aluminum conductor pattern by way of fire through in a region where the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern are superimposed.

Claims (20)

1. A method for manufacturing a solar cell, comprising steps of:

a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a light-receiving side and a back side, wherein a passivation layer is formed on the back side;

b) applying a first conductive paste comprising silver-containing powder in a prescribed pattern on the passivation layer on the back side of the semiconductor substrate, thereby forming a silver conductor pattern;

c) applying a second conductive paste comprising aluminum powder in a prescribed pattern on the passivation layer on the back side of the semiconductor substrate, thereby forming an aluminum conductor pattern, at least part of the aluminum conductor pattern being superimposed on at least part of the silver conductor pattern; and

d) firing the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern at the same time, thereby forming an electric contact between the semiconductor substrate and the aluminum conductor pattern by way of fire through in a region where the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern are superimposed,

wherein the electric contact by way of the fire through is not formed in a region where the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern are not superimposed.

2. A method of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor substrate is a p-doped silicon wafer and wherein an n-type diffusion layer is formed on the light-receiving side of the semiconductor substrate.

3. A method of claim 1 , wherein the passivation layer is formed with titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxide, indium tin oxide, zinc oxide or silicon carbide.

4. A method of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive paste comprises 0.1 to 95 wt % of the silver-containing powder and 5 to 99.9 wt % of the organic medium based on the weight of the first conductive paste.

5. A method of claim 1 , wherein the second conductive paste comprises 30 to 90 wt % of the aluminum powder and 10 to 70 wt % of the organic medium based on the weight of the second conductive paste.

6. A method of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive paste and the second conductive paste are respectively screen printed onto the passivation layer on the back side of the semiconductor substrate.

7. A method of claim 1 , wherein area of the region where the silver conductor pattern and the Al conductor pattern are superimposed is 0.001 to 50% based on the back surface area of the semiconductor substrate.

8. A method of claim 1 , wherein the second conductive paste is applied in a pattern such that part of the silver conductor pattern is superimposed with the A1 conductor pattern and the rest of the silver conductor pattern is not superimposed with the A1 conductor pattern.

9. A method of claim 8 , at least part of the rest of the silver conductor pattern functions as a tab electrode on the back side of the semiconductor substrate.

10. A method for manufacturing a solar cell, comprising steps of:

a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a light-receiving side and a back side, wherein a passivation layer is formed on the back side;

b) forming an aluminum conductor pattern comprising an aluminum powder in a prescribed pattern on the passivation layer on the back side of the semiconductor substrate;

c) forming a silver conductor pattern comprising a silver-containing powder in a prescribed pattern on the passivation layer on the back side of the semiconductor substrate, at least part of the silver conductor pattern being superimposed on at least part of the aluminum conductor pattern; and

d) firing the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern at the same time, thereby forming an electric contact between the semiconductor substrate and the aluminum conductor pattern by way of fire through in a region where the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern are superimposed,

wherein the electric contact by way of the fire through is not formed in a region where the silver conductor pattern and the aluminum conductor pattern are not superimposed.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2021
From: DUPONT ELECTRONICS, INC.
To: SOLAR PASTE, LLC
Reel/Frame 055766/0478 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
To: DUPONT ELECTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049583/0269 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2015
From: AKIMOTO, HIDEKI; KIKUCHI, CHIEKO
To: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Reel/Frame 034930/0384 →