Flexible monocrystalline thin silicon cell
AssigneeAmberwave, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Lochtefeld, Chris Leitz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device, system, and method for solar cell construction and layer transfer are disclosed herein. An exemplary method of solar cell construction involves providing a silicon donor substrate. A porous layer is formed on the donor substrate. A first portion of a solar cell is constructed on the porous layer of the donor substrate. The solar cell and donor substrate are bonded to a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate and the first portion of a solar cell are then separated from the donor substrate at the porous layer. A second portion of a solar cell may then be constructed on the first portion of a solar cell providing a single completed solar cell.
Claims27
A method of solar cell construction, the method comprising:
- providing a silicon donor substrate;
- forming a porous layer on the silicon donor substrate;
- constructing a first portion of a solar cell on the porous layer of the silicon donor substrate wherein the action of constructing the first portion of the solar cell further comprises the actions of:
- producing a n+ doped epitiaxial layer;
- producing a n− doped epitiaxial silicon film on the n+ doped epitiaxial silicon film;
- producing a passivation layer with openings on top of the n− doped epitiaxial silicon film;
- depositing aluminum on the passivation layer;
- and
- annealing to allow reaction of the aluminum with the n− doped epitiaxial silicon film via the openings;
- bonding the first portion of the solar cell to a flexible substrate;
- separating the flexible substrate and the first portion of the solar cell from the silicon donor substrate at the porous layer;
- and
- constructing a second portion of the solar cell on the first portion of the solar cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.