Metallization Structures for Solar Cells
Methods of fabricating a solar cell including metallization techniques and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, forming a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region on the back side of a substrate. A first conductive busbar can be formed above the first semiconductor region. A first portion of a second conductive busbar can be formed above the second semiconductor region. A second portion of the second conductive busbar can be formed above the second semiconductor region, where a separation region separates the second portion and the first portion of the second conductive busbar. A third conductive busbar can be formed above the first semiconductor region. A first conductive bridge can be formed above the separation region, where the first conductive bridge electrically connects the first conductive busbar to the third conductive busbar.
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A solar cell, the solar cell having a front side which faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite the front side, the solar cell comprising:
a substrate having a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region disposed on the back side of the solar cell;
a first plurality of contact fingers disposed above the first semiconductor region;
a first conductive busbar disposed above the first plurality of contact fingers;
a second plurality of contact fingers disposed above the second semiconductor region;
a first portion of a second conductive busbar disposed above the second plurality of metal fingers;
a second portion of the second conductive busbar disposed above the second plurality of contact fingers, wherein a first separation region separates the second portion and the first portion of the second conductive busbar;
a third conductive busbar disposed above the first plurality of contact fingers; and
a first conductive bridge electrically connecting the first conductive busbar to the third conductive busbar, wherein the first conductive bridge is disposed above the first separation region.
12 . The solar cell of claim 11 , wherein the first and second plurality of contact fingers include a seed metal layer.
13 . The solar cell of claim 11 , wherein the first and second plurality of contact fingers comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel, silver, cobalt, copper, titanium and tungsten.
14 . The solar cell of claim 11 , wherein the first, second and third conductive busbars comprise a conductive foil.
15 . The solar cell of claim 11 , wherein the first semiconductor region is N-type and the second semiconductor region is P-type.
16 - 20 . (canceled)