Metallization of solar cells using metal foils
US-2018097129-A1 · Apr 5, 2018 · US
Laser assisted metallization process for solar cell fabrication
US11276785B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-11276785-B2 |
| Application number | US-201916377053-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Apr 5, 2019 |
| Priority date | Apr 6, 2018 |
| Publication date | Mar 15, 2022 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 2022 |
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- Title
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- Abstract
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Abstract
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A method for fabricating a solar cell and the and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. The method can include: providing a solar cell having metal foil having first regions that are electrically connected to semiconductor regions on a substrate at a plurality of conductive contact structures, and second regions; locating a carrier sheet over the second regions; bonding the carrier sheet to the second regions; and removing the carrier sheet from the substrate to selectively remove the second regions of the metal foil.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A method for fabricating a solar cell, comprising: providing a solar cell having a metal foil having first regions that are electrically connected to semiconductor regions on a substrate at a plurality of conductive contact structures, and second regions; locating a carrier sheet over the second regions; bonding the carrier sheet to the second regions, wherein the bonding comprises soldering the carrier sheet; and removing the carrier sheet from the substrate to selectively remove the second regions of the metal foil. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the carrier sheet comprises mechanically removing the carrier sheet. 3. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the carrier sheet comprises using compressed air, a water jet, or by drawing up the carrier sheet by vacuum. 4. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the carrier sheet tears the metal foil leaving an edge feature on the first regions. 5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier sheet comprises a polymer. 6. A method for fabricating a solar cell, comprising: locating a carrier sheet over a solar cell having a metal foil having first regions that are electrically connected to semiconductor regions on a substrate at a plurality of conductive contact structures, and second regions; bonding the carrier sheet to the second regions, wherein the bonding comprises soldering the carrier sheet; and mechanically removing the carrier sheet comprises pulling up one or more edges of the carrier sheet to selectively remove the second regions of the metal foil. 7. The method of claim 6 , wherein pulling comprises clamping an edge of the carrier sheet; and removing the carrier sheet from the substrate with the clamp to selectively remove the second regions of the metal foil. 8. The method of claim 6 , wherein removing the carrier sheet tears the metal foil leaving an edge feature on the first regions. 9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the carrier sheet comprises a polymer. 10. A method for fabricating a solar cell, comprising: providing a solar cell having a metal foil having first regions that are electrically connected to semiconductor regions on a substrate at a plurality of conductive contact structures, and second regions; locating a carrier sheet over the second regions; bonding the carrier sheet to the second regions, wherein the bonding comprises selectively melting the carrier sheet or soldering the carrier sheet; and removing the carrier sheet from the substrate to selectively remove the second regions of the metal foil wherein the carrier sheet comprises a second metal foil. 11. A method for fabricating a solar cell, comprising: locating a carrier sheet over a solar cell having a metal foil having first regions that are electrically connected to semiconductor regions on a substrate at a plurality of conductive contact structures, and second regions; bonding the carrier sheet to the second regions, wherein the bonding comprises selectively melting the carrier sheet or soldering the carrier sheet; and mechanically removing the carrier sheet comprises pulling up one or more edges of the carrier sheet to selectively remove the second regions of the metal foil wherein the carrier sheet comprises a second metal foil.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Irradiation with electromagnetic or particle radiation · CPC title
for back-contact photovoltaic cells · CPC title
using temporary substrates · CPC title
Arrangements for electrodes of back-contact photovoltaic cells · CPC title
- H10F77/935Primary
for photovoltaic devices or modules · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US11276785B2 cover?
- A method for fabricating a solar cell and the and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. The method can include: providing a solar cell having metal foil having first regions that are electrically connected to semiconductor regions on a substrate at a plurality of conductive contact structures, and second regions; lo…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Sunpower Corp
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification H10F77/935. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Mar 15 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 4 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).