Bonds for solar cell metallization
A solar cell can include a substrate and a semiconductor region disposed in or above the substrate. The solar cell can also include a conductive contact disposed on the semiconductor region with the conductive contact including a conductive foil bonded to the semiconductor region.
1. A solar cell, comprising:
a substrate;
a semiconductor region disposed above and insulated from the substrate; and
a conductive foil thermally compressed to the semiconductor region.
2. The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising a first metal between the conductive foil and the semiconductor region.
3. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the conductive foil includes aluminum.
4. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the conductive foil is an aluminum foil coated in copper.
5. The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising a contact region for coupling the solar cell to another solar cell, wherein the contact region includes a different type of metal than the conductive foil.
6. The solar cell of claim 2 , further comprising a second metal between the conductive foil and the first metal.
7. The solar cell of claim 6 , further comprising an intermetallic phase of the second metal and the conductive foil.
8. A solar cell, comprising:
a single crystalline silicon substrate;
a doped silicon region disposed in the single crystalline silicon substrate;
a conductive foil thermally compressed to the doped silicon region;
a first metal between the conductive foil and the doped silicon region; and
a second metal between the conductive foil and the first metal.
9. The solar cell of claim 8 , further comprising an intermetallic phase of the second metal and the conductive foil.
10. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the conductive foil includes aluminum.
11. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the conductive foil is an aluminum foil coated in copper.
12. The solar cell of claim 8 , further comprising a contact region for coupling the solar cell to another solar cell, wherein the contact region includes a different type of metal than the conductive foil.
13. A solar cell, comprising:
a single crystalline silicon substrate;
a doped polycrystalline silicon layer disposed above the single crystalline silicon sub strategy;
an oxide layer between the single crystalline silicon substrate and the doped polycrystalline silicon layer; and
a conductive foil thermally compressed to the doped polycrystalline silicon layer.
14. The solar cell of claim 13 , further comprising a first metal between the conductive foil and the doped polycrystalline silicon layer.
15. The solar cell of claim 14 , further comprising a second metal between the conductive foil and the first metal.
16. The solar cell of claim 13 , wherein the conductive foil includes aluminum.
17. The solar cell of claim 13 , further comprising a contact region for coupling the solar cell to another solar cell, wherein the contact region includes a different type of metal than the conductive foil.
18. The solar cell of claim 15 , further comprising an intermetallic phase of the second metal and the conductive foil.
19. A solar cell, comprising:
a substrate;
a semiconductor region disposed in or above the substrate;
a conductive foil thermally compressed to the semiconductor region;
a first metal between the conductive foil and the semiconductor region; and
a second metal between the conductive foil and the first metal.
20. A solar cell, comprising:
a single crystalline silicon substrate;
a doped silicon region disposed in the single crystalline silicon substrate; and
a conductive foil thermally compressed to the doped silicon region, wherein the conductive foil is an aluminum foil coated in copper.
21. A solar cell, comprising:
a single crystalline silicon substrate;
a doped polycrystalline silicon layer disposed above the single crystalline silicon substrate;
a conductive foil thermally compressed to the doped polycrystalline silicon layer;
a first metal between the conductive foil and the doped polycrystalline silicon layer; and
a second metal between the conductive foil and the first metal.