US4359487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for applying an anti-reflection coating to a solar cell
Assignee: BP Solar International LLC
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Filing: 1981-10-09
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Granted: 1982-11-16
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Expires: 2001-10-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention teaches a method for applying an anti-reflection coating to solar cells whereby the coating is interdispersed among the cell's electrodes on the cell's junction surface. The method includes coating the solar cell's surface with an anti-reflection layer, selectively etching a pattern through the anti-reflection layer, which corresponds to the desired electrode pattern and electrolessly plating a layer of nickel onto the cell's surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:36
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/40; H10P14/46; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/311; H10F77/315; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for applying an anti-reflective coating and an electrode pattern to a solar cell surface, said method comprising: coating at least said surface with an anti-reflection layer; masking a portion of said coated surface to form an electrode pattern in at least a portion of said surface which remains unmasked; etching said coating in the unmasked portion of said surface to remove said anti-reflection layer; sensitizing at least said etched region of said solar cell surface; electrolessly plating a layer comprising nickel onto at least said sensitized region of said solar cell surface; removing said masking from said solar cell surface whereby said nickel layer remains only in said electrode pattern; coating said nickel layer with a layer of electrically conducting material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for applying an anti-reflective coating and an electrode pattern to a solar cell surface, said method comprising: coating at least said surface with an anti-reflection layer; masking a portion of said coated surface to form an electrode pattern in at least a portion of said surface which remains unmasked; etching said coating in the unmasked portion of said surface to remove said anti-reflection layer; sensitizing at least said etched region of said solar cell surface; electrolessly plating a layer comprising nickel onto at least said sensitized region of said solar cell surface; removing said masking from said solar cell surface whereby said nickel layer remains only in said electrode pattern; coating said nickel layer with a layer of electrically conducting material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anti-reflection coating is a metal oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anti-reflection coating comprises an oxide of titanium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anti-reflection coating comprises an oxide of silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anti-reflection coating is a mixture of titanium oxide and silicon oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said anti-reflection oxide is formed by spin-on coating said surface with a precursor solution to form a mixture of the oxides of titanium and silicon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said spin-on coating is subsequently heat treated at a temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 400° C. for a period ranging from about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said oxide coating is formed by spraying a precursor solution to form a mixture of the oxides of titanium and silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anti-reflection coating is magnesium fluoride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anti-reflection coating is silicon nitride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said masking comprises screening an asphalt based ink coating a portion of at least one surface of said solar cell, which coating is patterned to expose an area of said surface which corresponds to an electrode pattern for said solar cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electroless nickel plating comprises contacting at least said etched surface and a bottom surface of said solar cell with an electroless plating solution comprising ammonium acetate, ammonium chloride, nickel chloride and sodium hypophosphate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said plating produces a layer of nickel ranging in thickness from about 0.08 microns to about 1.2 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method set forth in claim 13 wherein said nickel layer is heat treated at a temperature ranging from about 250° C. to about 350° C. for a time period ranging from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductins metal comprises solder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said solder is coated onto said nickel layer by contacting said nickel layer with molten solder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3949463A
Cited
US3904453A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-15 | 1986-05-17 | 1986-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-15 | 1990-05-17 | 1990-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-15 | 1994-05-17 | 1994-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |