Solar energy cell and method of manufacture

A method of forming a ribbon shaped silicon body comprising the steps of:

• providing a base ribbon of relatively thin, high temperature resistant, electrically nonconductive material;
• applying a layer of electrically conductive high temperature resistant material on at least one (1) face of said base ribbon to form a composite ribbon;
• providing a coat of silicon over selected surface areas of said composite ribbon, said selected areas extending at least as far as the limits of the layer of said electrically conductive material, said silicon coat being deposited to a precisely controlled thickness of up to several atoms thick;
• and passing said selected areas of said composite ribbon through a molten bath of silicon for growing a layer of single crystal silicon over said silicon coat to form a resultant ribbon.

A photovoltaic cell comprising:

• a base ribbon of relatively thin, high temperature resistant, electrically nonconductive material;
• a layer of electrically conductive high temperature resistant material on one (1) face of said base ribbon;
• a thin layer of silicon up to several atoms thick deposited over at least said electrically conductive material, said electrically conductive material being layered between said deposited layer of silicon and said base ribbon;
• a layer of single crystal silicon grown over said layer of silicon, said single crystal silicon having a controlled impurity in it which enables electrons to flow in the presence of solar radiation;
• means for making an electrical connection from said electrically conductive material to the face of said base ribbon opposite the face over which said electrically conductive material is layered;
• and a grid of electrically conductive material overlying said single crystal silicon but permitting solar radiation to strike a substantial portion thereof thereby causing a flow of electrons which produces a current flow between the grid and the electrical connection means.