Sculpted solar cell surfaces

摘要

The present invention relates to the shaping of solar cell substrate surfaces in order to provide advantageous light-catching and interaction properties. Previous solar cell substrates have suffered from a relatively high percentage loss of light due to reflection from the substrate surface, as well as the disadvantage that light passing into the substrate may not be absorbed in regions of high collection probability, close to the semiconductor junctions. By specifically shaping the surface of the substrate to produce predetermined surface structures the above disadvantages can be minimized. Previous texturing of solar cell substrates has relied on the crystalline structure of the substrate to control the surface texture. The surface thus produced does not maximize the antireflection and absorption properties. By using a laser scriber and following this with a chemical etch, we produce surface shapes which maximize the anti-reflection and absorption properties of the solar cell.