Patent ID: 6229084
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A space solar cell, comprising:a semiconductor substrate including a crystalline silicon wafer which functions as an active layer, said semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion layer on a light receiving surface thereof;a light receiving side electrode formed on at least part of said first diffusion layer of said semiconductor substrate;a dielectric layer formed on a back surface of said semiconductor substrate;a back surface electrode formed on the dielectric layer;wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the dielectric layer for establishing an electrical connection between the back surface electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and a ratio of the area occupied by the openings relative to the area of the back surface of the semiconductor substrate is within a range from 10% to 30% in a manner such that recombination of minority carriers on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate is effectively inhibited; andwherein the back surface of the semiconductor substrate is characterized by one of: (i) the semiconductor substrate includes a second diffusion layer on its entire back surface, and (ii) the entire back surface of the semiconductor substrate directly contacts said dielectric layer and material in said openings therein with no diffusion layer therebetween.