IP Library Patent Application 14686801
Patent Application
App. No. 14/686,801

SOLAR CELL AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A SOLAR CELL

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/686,801
Abstract

In various embodiments, a solar cell is provided, comprising: a substrate with a front-side and a rear-side, wherein at least the front-side receives light; a passivation layer on the rear-side of the substrate; local contact openings, which pass through the passivation layer and partially expose the rear-side of the substrate; and a first rear-side metallization on the passivation layer and in the local contact openings; wherein the plurality of the local contact openings are disposed such that they are completely covered by the first rear-side metallization.

Claims (50)

1 . A solar cell comprising:

a substrate with a front-side and a rear-side, wherein at least the front-side receives light,

a passivation layer on the rear-side of the substrate;

a plurality of local contact openings in the form of linear trenches, which pass through the passivation layer and partially expose the rear-side of the substrate; and

a first rear-side metallization on the passivation layer and in the local contact openings;

wherein the plurality of the local contact openings are disposed such that they are completely covered by the first rear-side metallization.

2 . The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the distance of the local contact openings to the edge of the first rear-side metallization is at least 10 μm, preferably at least 50 μm.

3 . The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the first rear-side metallization includes aluminum.

4 . The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the rear-side metallization comprises flat openings in the first rear-side metallization, which partially expose the passivation layer.

5 . The solar cell of claim 4 ,

wherein a second, preferably well solderable metallization is disposed in the flat openings.

6 . The solar cell of claim 5 ,

wherein the second metallization includes silver, nickel and/or zinc.

7 . The solar cell of claim 4 ,

wherein the flat openings divide the first rear-side metallization into a plurality of rear-side metallization segments, which are respectively disposed at a distance from each other, wherein each contact opening of the plurality of local contact openings is completely covered by a rear-side metallization segment of the plurality of rear-side metallization segments.

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

at least one more local contact opening in the form of a linear trench, which passes through the passivation layer and partially exposes the rear-side of the substrate, wherein the further local contact opening is formed such that this is partially covered by the first rear-side metallization.

9 . The solar cell of claim 8 ,

wherein the further local contact opening is interrupted at one end section, which protrudes beyond the first rear-side metallization.

10 . The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein silver is contained in the local contact openings for forming a respective local contact with the rear-side of the substrate.

11 . The solar cell of claim 5 ,

wherein the second metallization is placed on the unopened passivation layer regions.

12 . A method for manufacturing a solar cell, the method comprising:

forming a passivation layer on the rear-side of a substrate;

forming local contact openings through the passivation layer, so that the rear-side of the substrate is partially exposed; and

forming a first rear-side metallization on the passivation layer and in the local contact openings;

wherein the local contact openings are disposed such that they are completely covered by the rear-side metallization.

13 . The method of claim 12 ,

wherein the local contact openings are formed by means of Laser beam.

14 . The method of claim 13 ,

wherein the extension of the local contact openings is restricted by controlling the Laser beam.

15 . The method of claim 13 ,

wherein the extension of the local contact openings is restricted by using at least one shadow-mask.

16 . The method of claim 12 ,

wherein the local contact openings are etched.

17 . The method of claim 12 ,

wherein the local contact openings are formed such that the distance from each single local contact opening of the local contact openings to the edge of the rear-side metallization is at least 10 μm, preferably at least 50 μm.

18 . The method of claim 12 ,

wherein the first rear-side metallization includes flat openings, which partially expose the passivation layer;

wherein the flat openings divide the first rear-side metallization into a plurality of rear-side metallization segments, which are respectively disposed at a distance from each other, wherein each contact opening of the plurality of local contact openings is completely covered by a rear-side metallization segment of the plurality of rear-side metallization segments.

19 . The method of claim 18 ,

wherein the flat openings are formed, in which the plurality of rear-side metallization segments is formed in the form of stripes; or wherein the flat openings are formed, in which a portion of the rear-side metallization is removed.

20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

forming at least one more local contact opening in the form of a linear trench, which passes through the passivation layer and partially exposes the rear-side of the substrate, wherein the further contact opening is formed such that this is partially covered by the first rear-side metallization.

21 . The method of claim 20 ,

wherein the further local contact opening is formed interrupted at one end section, which protrudes beyond the first rear-side metallization.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2018
From: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
To: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 044819/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2015
From: STECKEMETZ, STEFAN; MUEHLBAUER, MARIA; RICHTER, LARS PHILIPP; SCHIEPE, ROMAN
To: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 035717/0182 →