The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 11, 1986
Allen M Barnett, Newark, DE (US);
Michael G Mauk, Wilmington, DE (US);
University of Delaware, Newark, DE (US);
Abstract
High efficiency, thin active-layer silicon solar cells and a process for their fabrications have been provided. The cells are characterized by a capability of employing a low-cost, metallurgical grade silicon for the substrate. The substrate has a silicon dioxide barrier coating with electrical conductivity to the active semiconductor layers provided by a multiplicity of fine holes through the oxide. The holes have silicon therein to afford electrical continuity between the active layers and the silicon of the substrate. The process comprises in situ formation of silicon dioxide on the silicon, formation of the holes in the oxide by photolithography, and etching enabling nucleation and growth of silicon in the holes by epitaxy.