Patent ID: 7737357

Claim:
A solar cell comprising: a) a single crystalline silicon substrate having first and second opposing major surfaces, wherein the first major surface is the light incident side; b) a dielectric layer on the second surface, the dielectric layer comprising a tunnel oxide; c) a first pattern of acceptor doped semiconductor material forming a plurality of emitters of a first type over the tunnel oxide on the second surface, a second pattern of donor doped semiconductor material forming a plurality of emitters of a second type over the tunnel oxide on the second surface and interleaved with the first pattern, and a dielectric layer lying over a portion of the first pattern and lying under a portion of the second pattern, wherein the semiconductor material is selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon-germanium, and III-V compound semiconductors; and d) a first conductive pattern interconnecting the acceptor doped semiconductor material and a second conductive pattern interconnecting the donor doped semiconductor material.