Patent ID: 8129216

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a solar cell, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being opposed to the first surface; applying a first dopant to the first surface and a second dopant to the second surface, the application of the first dopant resulting in a doped first surface and the application of the second dopant resulting in a doped second surface; covering the doped first surface with a mask, which has a pattern of openings that uncover portions of the doped first surface; applying a passivation layer on the doped second surface; applying a third dopant to the doped first surface having the mask, the application of the third dopant resulting in a doping pattern that at least partially penetrates into the substrate towards the doped second surface such that a first spatial arrangement of the doping pattern corresponds to a second spatial arrangement of the pattern of openings; removing the mask; applying a pattern of first electrical contacts onto the doping pattern; and applying a pattern of second electrical contacts onto the doped second surface in gaps in the passivation layer that are substantially aligned with the doping pattern; wherein the pattern of second electrical contacts and the doping pattern are substantially aligned.