Title: Methods of forming interdigitated back contact solar cells

Abstract

Methods for forming interdigitated back contact solar cells from III-V materials are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a method includes depositing a patterned Zn layer to cover first areas of an n-type emitter region, wherein the emitter region comprises a III-V material, and forming a passivated back contact region by counter-doping the first areas of the emitter region by diffusing Zn from the patterned Zn layer into the first areas of the emitter region, such that the first areas of the emitter region become p-type.

Inventors:

Young, David Levi; Steiner, Myles A.; Simon, John D.

Issue Date:

Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1735168

Patent Number(s):

10749052

Application Number:

15/895,183

Assignee:

Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Golden, CO)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/022441 - {Electrode arrangements specially adapted for back-contact solar cells}
H01L31/022458 - {for emitter wrap-through [EWT] type solar cells, e.g. interdigitated emitter-base back-contacts}
H01L31/03042 - {characterised by the doping material}
H01L31/03046 - {including ternary or quaternary compounds, e.g. GaAlAs, InGaAs, InGaAsP}
H01L31/047 - PV cell arrays including PV cells having multiple vertical junctions or multiple V-groove junctions formed in a semiconductor substrate
H01L31/0682 - {back-junction, i.e. rearside emitter, solar cells, e.g. interdigitated base-emitter regions back-junction cells}
H01L31/0693 - the devices including, apart from doping material or other impurities, only AIIIBV compounds, e.g. GaAs or InP solar cells
H01L31/0735 - comprising only AIIIBV compound semiconductors, e.g. GaAs/AlGaAs or InP/GaInAs solar cells
H01L31/1844 - {comprising ternary or quaternary compounds, e.g. Ga Al As, In Ga As P}
H01L31/1868 - {Passivation}
H01L31/1892 - {methods involving the use of temporary, removable substrates}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/544 - Solar cells from Group III-V materials
Y02E10/547 - Monocrystalline silicon PV cells

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 02/13/2018

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE