Abstract: A photovoltaic device is formed with a passivated light receiving first surface of a semiconductor material layer of a first dopant type. A region of oppositely doped semiconductor material is formed to create a p-n junction on at least part of a second surface located opposite to the light receiving first surface of the semiconducting material layer. First contacts are formed on the light receiving first surface of the first dopant type semiconductor material layer, and second contacts are formed on the oppositely doped material on the second surface of the semiconductor material layer.

Abstract: A method of coating a material surface with thin film silicon comprises dissolving silicon in a metal solvent to form a solution and subsequently deposited the dissolved silicon from the solution by controlling the temperature of the solution and thereby depositing a layer of silicon onto the material surface. The metal solvent is preferably a mixture of gold and a metal or metals which either have a melting point below the deposition temperature range or which form a eutectic with gold and have a eutectic temperature below the deposition temperature range. The temperature of the solution is controlled so that the silicon becomes super saturated in the solution and is deposited out of solution onto the material surface.

Abstract: Solar cells are produced in which surface texturing of the substrate surface, in the form of geometric ridges and pyramids, are formed at an angle to the perpendicular such that the ridges and pyramids are not symmetrical about a perpendicular axis or plane. Such "tilted" texturing causes an increased number of passes of trapped light within the cell and also within the encapsulation covering the cell thereby increasing the chances of light being absorbed. A process for manufacture of cells with tilted texturing involves sawing a wafer from an ingot at an angle .alpha. to the 100 plane and then processing the wafer in a conventional fashion, including texturing the surface with ridges or pyramids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the shaping of solar cell substrate surfaces in order to provide advantageous light-catching and interaction properties.Previous solar cell substrates have suffered from a relatively high percentage loss of light due to reflection from the substrate surface, as well as the disadvantage that light passing into the substrate may not be absorbed in regions of high collection probability, close to the semiconductor junctions.By specifically shaping the surface of the substrate to produce predetermined surface structures the above disadvantages can be minimized. Previous texturing of solar cell substrates has relied on the crystalline structure of the substrate to control the surface texture. The surface thus produced does not maximize the antireflection and absorption properties.By using a laser scriber and following this with a chemical etch, we produce surface shapes which maximize the anti-reflection and absorption properties of the solar cell.

Abstract: An electrical contact formed in a groove in the surface of a semiconductor material facilitates an advantageous contact with the material for a given cross-sectional area of contact when compared with a contact of the same cross-sectional area formed on the surface of the material. The grooved contact significantly reduces shading of the surface of the semiconductor material compared with an equivalent surface contact.

Abstract: An electrical contact formed in a groove in the surface of a semiconductor material facilitates an advantageous contact with the material for a given cross-sectional area of contact when compared with a contact of the same cross-sectional area formed on the surface of the material. The grooved contact significantly reduces shading of the surface of the semiconductor material compared with an equivalent surface contact.

Abstract: Grooved solar cells are manufactured by scribing the surface of the substrate with a laser scribing tool, and optionally etching the surface to more accurately determine the surface profile, before performing the remainder of the processing steps involved in the production of the solar cell. Top contact shading is avoided by providing holes through the substrate which allow connection to the top layer of the cell to be made from the back of the cell. Resistance to radiation is improved by providing a cell which is grooved on the top and bottom surfaces, the grooves of the bottom surface being spaced between the grooves on the top surface to allow the formation of a relatively thin cell structure. Top layer sheet resistivity is also varied to allow improved efficiency while maintaining the series resistance of the cell substantially unaltered.