Patent ID: 6403877
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of making a solar cell, the method comprising:providing a semiconductor substrate including a crystalline silicon wafer which functions as an active layer, the semiconductor substrate including a crystalline silicon wafer which namely a light receiving surface and a back surface; providing a diffusion layer on the light receiving surface of the semiconductor substrate; depositing a dielectric layer directly onto the entire back surface of the semiconductor substrate with no diffusion or other layer or portion therebetween, wherein the back surface of the semiconductor substrate is opposite the light receiving surface thereof; forming a plurality of contact holes or openings in the dielectric layer; providing a light receiving side electrode formed on the diffusion layer; forming a back surface electrode on the dielectric layer so that the dielectric layer is between the back surface electrode and the semiconductor substrate, so as to establish an electric via the contact holes or openings; and wherein the contact holes or openings are formed in the dielectric layer so that a ratio of the area occupied by the holes or openings relative to the area of the back surface of the semiconductor substrate is within a range from 0.25% to 30%.