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:
Aug. 02, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2014
Imec Vzw, Leuven, BE;
Total Marketing Services, Paris la Défense, FR;
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Ku Leuven R&d, Leuven, BE;
Périne Jaffrennou, Ixelles, BE;
Angel Uruena De Castro, Leuven, BE;
IMEC vzw, Leuven, BE;
Total Marketing Services, Paris la Défense, FR;
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, BE;
Abstract
The disclosed technology relates generally to photovoltaic cells, and more particularly to photovoltaic cells with plated metal contacts. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a photovoltaic cell with a metal contact pattern on a surface of a semiconductor substrate includes locally smoothening portions of the surface of the semiconductor substrate by using a first laser, at predetermined locations. The method additionally includes doping the surface of the semiconductor substrate to form an emitter region. The method additionally includes forming a dielectric layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and subsequently forming openings through the dielectric layer by using a second laser, thereby locally exposing the underlying surface of the semiconductor substrate at the predetermined locations. The method further includes forming metal contacts at exposed regions of the surface of the semiconductor substrate by plating.