IP Library Granted Patent US 9,508,888
Granted Patent B2
US 9,508,888 · App. 14/496,243 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

Solar cell with silicon nitride layer and method for manufacturing same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,508,888
App. No.
14/496,243
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell is provided with: a semiconductor substrate; an insulating layer formed of a silicon compound or a metal compound, and having a predetermined pattern over the substrate; and a surface covering layer formed of an amorphous semiconductor, having a same pattern as the insulating layer, and that directly contacts the insulating layer.

Claims (22)

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

forming a first amorphous semiconductor layer directly on one surface of a semiconductor substrate;

forming a silicon nitride layer directly on the first amorphous semiconductor layer;

forming a surface covering layer comprising an amorphous silicon layer directly on an entire region of the silicon nitride layer;

forming a resist film directly on the surface covering layer and applying wet etching, to form the first amorphous semiconductor layer, the silicon nitride layer, and the surface covering layer in a same pattern; and

forming a second amorphous semiconductor layer directly on the patterned surface covering layer and on one surface of the semiconductor substrate;

wherein the first amorphous semiconductor layer includes an n-type amorphous semiconductor layer provided in an n-type region; and

wherein the second amorphous semiconductor layer includes a p-type amorphous semiconductor layer provided in a p-type region.

2. The method of manufacturing solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein

a water contact angle of the surface covering layer is closer to a water contact angle of the resist film than is a water contact angle of the silicon nitride layer.

3. The method of manufacturing solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein

the surface covering layer is an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer.

4. A method of manufacturing a solar cell, comprising:

forming a first amorphous semiconductor layer directly on one surface of a semiconductor substrate;

forming a silicon nitride layer directly on the first amorphous semiconductor layer;

forming a surface covering layer comprising an amorphous silicon layer directly on an entire region directly on the silicon nitride layer;

etching the first amorphous semiconductor layer, the silicon nitride layer and the surface covering layer, to form the first amorphous semiconductor layer, the silicon nitride layer, and the surface covering layer in a same pattern; and

forming a second amorphous semiconductor layer directly on the patterned surface covering layer and on one surface of the semiconductor substrate;

wherein the first amorphous semiconductor layer includes an n-type amorphous semiconductor layer provided in an n-type region; and

wherein the second amorphous semiconductor layer includes a p-type amorphous semiconductor layer provided in a p-type region.

5. The method of manufacturing a solar cell according to claim 4 , wherein

the surface covering layer is an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2015
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035071/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2015
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035071/0508 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2014
From: SHIMIZU, SUMITO; SAITOU, TOMOHIRO
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 033881/0902 →