METAL PATTERNING FOR ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE STRUCTURES BASED ON ALLOY FORMATION

摘要

Layered metal structures are patterned to form a surface with some locations having an alloy along the top surface at some locations and the original top metal layer at other locations along the surface. The alloy and original top metal layer can be selected to have differential etching properties such that the pattern of the alloy or original metal can be selectively etched to form a patterned metal interconnect. In general, the patterning is performed by localized heating that drives formation of the alloy at the heated locations. The metal patterning can be useful for solar cell applications as well as for electronics applications, such as display applications.