Solar cell having improved front surface metallization

Patent · Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5987433

Lillington, D R; Mardesich, N; Dill, H G; Garlick, G F.J.

This patent describes a solar cell comprising: a first layer of gallium arsenide semiconductor material of an N+ conductivity; a second layer of gallium arsenide semiconductor material of an N conductivity overlying the first layer; a third layer of gallium arsenide semiconductor material of a P conductivity overlying the N conductivity layer and forming a P-N junction therebetween. A layer of aluminium gallium arsenide semiconductor material of a p conductivity overlying the front major surface of the P conductivity third layer and having an exposed surface essentially parallel to the front major surface and at least one edge; a plurality of metallic contact lines made of a first metal alloy composition and being spaced apart by a first predetermined distance traversing the exposed surface and extending through the aluminium gallium arsenide layer to the front major surface and making electrical contact to the third layer; a plurality of longitudinally disposed metallic grid lines made of a second metal alloy composition and being spaced apart by a second predetermined distance located on the exposed surface of the aluminium gallium arsenide layer and which cross the metallic contact lines and make electrical contact to the metallic lines; a flat metallic strip disposed on the aluminium gallium arsenide layer exposed surface near the edge, the strip electrically coupling the metallic grid lines to one another; and a back contact located on the back major surface.

• Assignee: Spectrolab, Inc., Sylmar, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4694115
• OSTI ID: 5987433
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 4 Nov 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
DESIGN
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COUPLINGS
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
LAYERS
P-N JUNCTIONS
SHEETS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
JUNCTIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PNICTIDES
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion