초록 ▼

An improved light transducer such as a solar cell and, especially, a concentrator solar cell, together with processes for forming the same which permit the formation of light transducers characterized by their improved efficiency, especially, at concentration ratios on the order of 100 Suns and grea

An improved light transducer such as a solar cell and, especially, a concentrator solar cell, together with processes for forming the same which permit the formation of light transducers characterized by their improved efficiency, especially, at concentration ratios on the order of 100 Suns and greater; and, more particularly, an improved process for forming concentrator solar cell electrodes, and improved concentrator solar cells produced thereby, characterized in that the electrodes comprise a multiplicity of closely spaced, fine-line－i.e., preferably on the order of less than about 1.0 mils in width－electroplated electrodes which are on the order of at least as thick as they are wide and, preferably which are at least 0.7 mils in thickness yet, which are characterized by their relatively sharp, vertical edge profiles and which are essentially devoid of lateral “spread”of the electroplated electrode materials.

대표청구항 ▼

The method of forming a highly efficient concentrator solar cell or the like having fine-line current carrying electrodes formed on a surface thereof with such electrodes having a width on the order of less than about 1.0 mils and a minimum thickness at least equal to the width thereof, comprising t

The method of forming a highly efficient concentrator solar cell or the like having fine-line current carrying electrodes formed on a surface thereof with such electrodes having a width on the order of less than about 1.0 mils and a minimum thickness at least equal to the width thereof, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a semiconductor substrate having at least one impurity dispersion zone formed on one surface thereof and a fine-line, grid-like contact area pattern formed thereon with such fine-line, grid-like pattern defined by contact areas of on the order of less than about 1.0 mils in width; (b) laminating a photoresist mask to the semiconductor substrate formed in step (a) with such mask having a thickness at least equal to the width of the fine-line, grid-like contact areas; (c) exposing the mask to form a grid-like pattern thereon in registration with the fine-line, grid-like contact area pattern formed on the substrate; (d) developing the exposed grid-like pattern formed in step (c) to produce a grid-like pattern of openings in the mask and extending therethrough with such openings (i) being in registration with the grid-like contact area pattern, (ii) having a width on the order of less than about 1.0 mils, and (iii) having well-defined vertical edge contours with a height at least equal to the width of said openings; (e) applying a metallic electroplated electrode to the exposed contact areas on the substrate through the openings formed in the photoresist mask with the metallic electroplated electrode having a width on the order of less than about 1.0 mil, a thickness at least equal to the width thereof, and well-defined, sharp, vertically oriented electrode edge contours; and, (f) removing the photoresist mask laminate from the concentrator solar cell substrate. The concentrator solar cell produced by the method set forth in claim 1.