IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,153,456
Granted Patent B2
US 8,153,456 · App. 13/010,303 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Bifacial solar cell using ion implantation

Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,153,456
App. No.
13/010,303
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An improved bifacial solar cell is disclosed. In some embodiments, the front side includes an n-type field surface field, while the back side includes a p-type emitter. In other embodiments, the p-type emitter is on the front side. To maximize the diffusion of majority carriers and lower the series resistance between the contact and the substrate, the regions beneath the metal contacts are more heavily doped. Thus, regions of higher dopant concentration are created in at least one of the FSF or the emitter. These regions are created through the use of selective implants, which can be performed on one or two sides of the bifacial solar cell to improve efficiency.

Claims (32)

1. A method of producing a bifacial solar cell using an n-type substrate, comprising:

implanting a first species of n-type dopant in a front side of said n-type substrate to create a surface field, wherein said first species of n-type dopant comprises phosphorus;

introducing a first species of p-type dopant to a back side of said n-type substrate to create an emitter, wherein said first species of p-type dopant comprises boron;

selectively implanting additional dopant to create doped contact regions on one of said front side or said back side of said n-type substrate;

treating said n-type substrate thermally; and

using a metallization technique to add metal contacts to said n-type substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said doped contact regions are created on said front side of said substrate, and said additional dopant comprises phosphorus.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising using selective implantation to create doped back contact regions on said back side of said substrate, using a second species of p-type dopant.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said second species of p-type dopant comprises boron.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said second species of p-type dopant comprises aluminum.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said doped contact regions are created on said back side of said substrate.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said additional dopant comprises aluminum.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said additional dopant comprises boron.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said metal contacts on said front side comprise a metal that is predominantly comprised of silver.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said metal contacts on said back side comprise a metal that is predominantly comprised of aluminum.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said metal contacts on said back side comprise a metal that is predominantly comprised of silver.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said metal contacts are printed on said doped contact regions.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said introducing comprises implanting.

14. A method of producing a bifacial solar cell using an n-type substrate, comprising:

implanting a first species of n-type dopant in a back side of said n-type substrate to create a surface field, wherein said first species of n-type dopant comprises phosphorus;

introducing a first species of p-type dopant to a front side of said n-type substrate to create an emitter, wherein said first species of p-type dopant comprises boron;

selectively implanting additional dopant to create doped contact regions on said back side of said n-type substrate, wherein said additional dopant comprises phosphorus;

treating said n-type substrate thermally; and

using a metallization technique to add metal contacts to said n-type substrate.

15. A method of producing a bifacial solar cell using an n-type substrate, comprising:

implanting a first species of n-type dopant in a back side of said n-type substrate to create a surface field, wherein said first species of n-type dopant comprises phosphorus;

introducing a first species of p-type dopant to a front side of said n-type substrate to create an emitter, wherein said first species of p-type dopant comprises boron;

selectively implanting additional dopant to create doped contact regions on said front side of said n-type substrate, wherein said additional dopant comprises a second species of p-type dopant;

treating said n-type substrate thermally; and

using a metallization technique to add metal contacts to said n-type substrate.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said second species of p-type dopant comprises boron.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said second species of p-type dopant comprises aluminum.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GUPTA, ATUL; BATEMAN, NICHOLAS P.T.
To: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025789/0816 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61296609 · Jan 20, 2010
Related Publication 20110177652A1 · Jul 21, 2011