IP Library Granted Patent US 9,406,821
Granted Patent B2
US 9,406,821 · App. 14/314,938 · Granted Aug 2, 2016

Method of fabricating a back-contact solar cell and device thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,406,821
App. No.
14/314,938
Granted
Aug 2, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of fabricating back-contact solar cells and devices thereof are described. A method of fabricating a back-contact solar cell includes forming an N-type dopant source layer and a P-type dopant source layer above a material layer disposed above a substrate. The N-type dopant source layer is spaced apart from the P-type dopant source layer. The N-type dopant source layer and the P-type dopant source layer are heated. Subsequently, a trench is formed in the material layer, between the N-type and P-type dopant source layers.

Claims (9)

1. A back-contact solar cell, comprising:

a material layer disposed above a substrate; and

a trench disposed in the material layer, the trench separating an N-type region and a P-type region of the material layer, the P-type region comprising a dopant concentration directly adjacent to the trench substantially equal to a dopant concentration in the center of the P-type region;

wherein the trench is disposed entirely through the material layer and partially into the substrate.

2. The back-contact solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the material layer is a poly-crystalline silicon layer, the substrate is a single-crystalline silicon substrate, the P-type region comprises boron dopant impurity atoms, and the N-type region comprises phosphorous dopant impurity atoms.

3. The back-contact solar cell of claim 1 , wherein surfaces of the substrate not covered by the material layer comprise a textured surface.

4. The back-contact solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises N-type dopants at or near surfaces of the substrate not covered by the material layer.

5. The back-contact solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

a dielectric film disposed directly between the material layer and the substrate.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067924/0062 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 071343/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067637/0598 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2023
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
To: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 062699/0875 →