US4492813A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Amorphous silicon solar cell
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1983-08-18
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Granted: 1985-01-08
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Expires: 2003-08-18
Abstract
Abstract Solar cells having a semiconductor body composed of amorphous silicon which is applied to a substrate coated at least at one surface thereof with aluminum, functioning as a back contact. Recrystallization is prevented by alloying silicon or silicon/titanium into the aluminum layer so that the amounts of silicon within the alloy is, in preferred embodiments, about 1.3% by weight and, with the presence of 0.1% by weight titanium, is at about 1.2% by weight.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmold Kausche
- 👤 Matthias Moeller
- 👤 Franz Fischer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:04
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F77/1692; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
In a solar cell having a semiconductor body composed essentially of amorphous silicon applied to a substrate having at least at one surface thereof comprised of a metal layer functioning as a back contact, the improvement wherein said back metal layer is composed of an aluminum-silicon alloy, with or without a titanium additive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a solar cell having a semiconductor body composed essentially of amorphous silicon applied to a substrate having at least at one surface thereof comprised of a metal layer functioning as a back contact, the improvement wherein said back metal layer is composed of an aluminum-silicon alloy, with or without a titanium additive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A solar cell as defined in claim 1, wherein the amount of silicon in said alloy is less than about 2% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A solar cell as defined in claim 2, wherein the amount of silicon in said alloy is about 1.3% by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A solar cell as defined in claim 1, wherein said aluminum/silicon layer contains about 1 to 2% by weight silicon and contains about 0.1 through 0.2% by weight titanium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A solar cell as defined in claim 1, wherein said back metal layer has a thickness in the range of about 500 through 1000 nm and has a specific resistance of about 50 micro-Ohm-cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A solar cell as defined in claim 1, wherein said back metal layer is produced by high frequency sputtering or by vapor-deposition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3914856A
Cited
DE3023165A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-08 | 1988-07-09 | 1989-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-08 | 1992-07-09 | 1993-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-08 | 1996-07-09 | 1997-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |