Patent ID: 9136126
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a doped surface region of a semiconductor material at a surface of a semiconductor solar cell device during its manufacture, the semiconductor material comprising silicon, a dielectric material surface layer extending over the surface region of the semiconductor material and the doping being performed in one or more localised regions of the semiconductor material, the method comprising: locally heating a surface of the semiconductor material in an area to be doped to locally melt the semiconductor material to form a molten semiconductor material, the melting being performed in the presence of a dopant source whereby dopant from the dopant source is absorbed into the molten semiconductor material, and wherein the heating is performed in a controlled manner such that a region of the surface of the semiconductor material in the area to be doped is maintained in a molten state without refreezing for a period of time greater than one microsecond.