Solar cell metallisation and interconnection method

摘要

A solar cell and a method of forming a contact structure on a solar cell having a p-n junction formed between a first semiconductor region of a first dopant polarity and a second semiconductor region of a second dopant polarity opposite to the first dopant polarity. The method comprises: forming a plurality of contact points on a surface of the solar cell, whereby the contact points provide an electrical connection to the first semiconductor region; and locating a plurality of conducting wires over the solar cell to make electrical connection to the contact points. The contact points are either an exposed silicon surface or a silicon surface over which metal pads are formed. The metal pads may comprise a plated layer of a low-melting temperature metal and/or may have a thickness of less than 5 microns.

主权项

1. A method of forming a contact structure on a solar cell having a p-n junction formed between a first semiconductor region of a first dopant polarity and a second semiconductor region of a second dopant polarity opposite to the first dopant polarity, the first semiconductor region having a textured surface, the method comprising:
forming a textured dielectric surface having a plurality of peaks by coating the textured surface with a dielectric layer; forming openings in the dielectric layer to expose areas of the first semiconductor region; forming a plurality of discrete heavily doped regions of the first dopant polarity at the openings extending from the surface of the solar cell into the first semiconductor region; forming a plurality of discrete first contact points on a surface of the solar cell, the contact points comprising first metal pads having a thickness of less than 5 microns over the discrete heavily doped regions to provide an electrical connection to the first semiconductor region, a top surface of the first metal pads being lower than a highest peak of the plurality of peaks of the textured dielectric surface; and locating a plurality of first conducting wires over the solar cell whereby each of the conducting wires makes contact with and electrically connects to at least one of the first metal pads.