Aligned metallization for solar cells

A method of fabricating a solar cell, the method comprising:

• forming a semiconductor layer over a semiconductor substrate;
• forming an insulating layer over the semiconductor layer;
• forming a first plurality of discrete openings in the insulating layer and in the semiconductor layer, the first plurality of discrete openings exposing corresponding discrete portions of the semiconductor substrate;
• forming a doping source layer over the insulating layer and in the first plurality of discrete openings;
• forming a plurality of doped regions in the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the first plurality of discrete openings, the plurality of doped regions formed from the doping source layer;
• forming a second plurality of discrete openings in the doping source layer using a laser ablation process, each one of the second plurality of discrete openings entirely within a perimeter of a corresponding one of the first plurality of discrete openings;
• and
• forming a plurality of conductive contacts in the second plurality of discrete openings and on the plurality of doped regions.