Patent ID: 8207444

Claim:
A solar cell having a front side facing the sun to collect solar radiation during normal operation and a backside opposite the front side, the solar cell comprising: a silicon substrate; a first layer of doped polysilicon formed over a back surface of the substrate, the first layer of doped polysilicon forming a backside junction with the substrate; a second layer of doped polysilicon formed over a front surface of the substrate, the second layer of doped polysilicon making an electrical connection to the substrate; a first silicon dioxide layer between the first layer of doped polysilicon and the back surface of the substrate; a second silicon dioxide layer between the second layer of doped polysilicon and the front surface of the substrate; a first metal contact making an electrical connection to the first layer of doped polysilicon on the backside of the solar cell; a second metal contact making an electrical connection to the second layer of doped polysilicon on the front side of the solar cell, the first metal contact and the second metal contact being configured to allow an external electrical circuit to be powered by the solar cell; a doped region under a textured portion of the front surface of the substrate, the doped region being of a same conductivity type as the second layer of doped polysilicon; wherein the dielectric layer is not the first silicon dioxide layer or the second silicon dioxide layer, and a dielectric layer formed over the first layer of doped polysilicon, and wherein the first metal contact comprises aluminum formed over the dielectric layer.