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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Electrical contacts for a thin-film semiconductor device

Patent ·
OSTI ID:867065

A method of fabricating spaced-apart back contacts on a thin film of semiconductor material by forming strips of buffer material on top of the semiconductor material in locations corresponding to the desired dividing lines between back contacts, forming a film of metal substantially covering the semiconductor material and buffer strips, and scribing portions of the metal film overlying the buffer strips with a laser without contacting the underlying semiconductor material to separate the metal layer into a plurality of back contacts. The buffer material serves to protect the underlying semiconductor material from being damaged during the laser scribing. Back contacts and multi-cell photovoltaic modules incorporating such back contacts also are disclosed.

Assignee:
Solarex Corporation (Rockville, MD)
Patent Number(s):
US 4854974
Application Number:
07/197,433
OSTI ID:
867065
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English