Patent ID: 11942561
Assignee: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
Field: Semiconductors (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  Y | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. A method of manufacturing a solar cell comprising:
providing a monocrystalline silicon wafer having a front surface, a rear surface and a thickness between the front and rear surfaces;
forming trenches in the front surface of the silicon wafer, each trench having a depth, a length, a width, and walls, the depth of each trench not greater than the thickness of the silicon wafer;
depositing a first amorphous silicon layer on the front surface of the silicon wafer;
depositing a second amorphous silicon layer on the rear surface of the silicon wafer;
depositing a first transparent conductive oxide (TCO) onto the first amorphous silicon layer forming a front TCO layer and into the trenches formed in the silicon wafer such that the first TCO coats and passivates the walls of each trench;
depositing a second TCO onto the second amorphous silicon layer forming a rear TCO layer;
forming conductive grid lines on the front and rear TCO layers; and
after depositing the first TCO into the trenches, dicing the silicon wafer in line with each trench to form solar cell strips.