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Title: Dry texturing of solar cells

Abstract

A textured backside of a semiconductor device for increasing light scattering and absorption in a semiconductor substrate is accomplished by applying infrared radiation to the front side of a semiconductor substrate that has a metal layer deposited on its backside in a time-energy profile that first produces pits in the backside surface and then produces a thin, highly reflective, low resistivity, epitaxial alloy layer over the entire area of the interface between the semiconductor substrate and a metal contact layer. The time-energy profile includes ramping up to a first energy level and holding for a period of time to create the desired pit size and density and then rapidly increasing the energy to a second level in which the entire interface area is melted and alloyed quickly. After holding the second energy level for a sufficient time to develop the thin alloy layer over the entire interface area, the energy is ramped down to allow epitaxial crystal growth in the alloy layer. The result is a textured backside on an optically reflective, low resistivity alloy interface between the semiconductor substrate and the metal electrical contact layer. 9 figs.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7193238
Patent Number(s):
5358574
Application Number:
PPN: US 8-155385
Assignee:
Midwest Research Inst., Kansas City, MO (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-83CH10093
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 22 Nov 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; REFLECTIVE COATINGS; TEXTURE; SOLAR CELLS; EPITAXY; FABRICATION; LAYERS; OPTIMIZATION; VISIBLE RADIATION; COATINGS; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; EQUIPMENT; PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; RADIATIONS; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; 140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion

Citation Formats

Sopori, B L. Dry texturing of solar cells. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Sopori, B L. Dry texturing of solar cells. United States.
Sopori, B L. Tue . "Dry texturing of solar cells". United States.
@article{osti_7193238,
title = {Dry texturing of solar cells},
author = {Sopori, B L},
abstractNote = {A textured backside of a semiconductor device for increasing light scattering and absorption in a semiconductor substrate is accomplished by applying infrared radiation to the front side of a semiconductor substrate that has a metal layer deposited on its backside in a time-energy profile that first produces pits in the backside surface and then produces a thin, highly reflective, low resistivity, epitaxial alloy layer over the entire area of the interface between the semiconductor substrate and a metal contact layer. The time-energy profile includes ramping up to a first energy level and holding for a period of time to create the desired pit size and density and then rapidly increasing the energy to a second level in which the entire interface area is melted and alloyed quickly. After holding the second energy level for a sufficient time to develop the thin alloy layer over the entire interface area, the energy is ramped down to allow epitaxial crystal growth in the alloy layer. The result is a textured backside on an optically reflective, low resistivity alloy interface between the semiconductor substrate and the metal electrical contact layer. 9 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {10}
}

Patent:
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