A multijunction solar cell includes a base substrate comprising a Group IV semiconductor and a dopant of a first carrier type. A patterned emitter is formed at a first surface of the base substrate. The patterned emitter comprises a plurality of well regions doped with a dopant of a second carrier type in the Group IV semiconductor. The base substrate including the patterned emitter form a first solar subcell. The multijunction solar cell further comprises an upper structure comprising one or more additional solar subcells over the first solar subcell. Methods of making a multijunction solar cell are also described.

A multijunction solar cell includes a base substrate comprising a Group IV semiconductor and a dopant of a first carrier type. A patterned emitter is formed at a first surface of the base substrate. The patterned emitter comprises a plurality of well regions doped with a dopant of a second carrier type in the Group IV semiconductor. The base substrate including the patterned emitter form a first solar subcell. The multijunction solar cell further comprises an upper structure comprising one or more additional solar subcells over the first solar subcell. Methods of making a multijunction solar cell are also described.

A multijunction solar cell includes a base substrate comprising a Group IV semiconductor and a dopant of a first carrier type. A patterned emitter is formed at a first surface of the base substrate. The patterned emitter comprises a plurality of well regions doped with a dopant of a second carrier type in the Group IV semiconductor. The base substrate including the patterned emitter form a first solar subcell. The multijunction solar cell further comprises an upper structure comprising one or more additional solar subcells over the first solar subcell. Methods of making a multijunction solar cell are also described.

In one embodiment, a solar cell has base and emitter diffusion regions formed on the back side. The emitter diffusion region is configured to collect minority charge carriers in the solar cell, while the base diffusion region is configured to collect majority charge carriers. The emitter diffusion region may be a continuous region separating the base diffusion regions. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a reduced area to decrease minority charge carrier recombination losses without substantially increasing series resistance losses due to lateral flow of majority charge carriers. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a dot shape, for example.

In one embodiment, a solar cell has base and emitter diffusion regions formed on the back side. The emitter diffusion region is configured to collect minority charge carriers in the solar cell, while the base diffusion region is configured to collect majority charge carriers. The emitter diffusion region may be a continuous region separating the base diffusion regions. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a reduced area to decrease minority charge carrier recombination losses without substantially increasing series resistance losses due to lateral flow of majority charge carriers. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a dot shape, for example.

Disclosed is solar cell, a photovoltaic module, and a method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module. The solar cell includes a substrate, first busbars and second busbars arranged on the substrate, first fingers connected to the first busbars, and second fingers connected to the second busbars. The first busbars and the second busbars have opposite polarities. The first fingers have a same polarity as the first busbars, and the second fingers have a same polarity as the second busbars. The substrate is provided with busbar pits. At least part of the first and second busbars are located in the busbar pits. Depths of the busbar pits range from 30 ?m to 50 ?m. Along a thickness direction of the substrate, ratios of the depths of the busbar pits to heights of the first busbars and/or the second busbars range from 10:3 to 6:5.

The present disclosure relates to a passivating contact that includes a dielectric layer constructed of a first material, an intervening layer constructed of a second material, and a substrate constructed of a semiconductor, where the dielectric layer is positioned between the substrate and the intervening layer, the dielectric layer has a first thickness, and the substrate has a second thickness. The passivating contact also includes a plurality of conductive pathways that include the second material and pass through the first thickness, the second material penetrates into the second thickness forming a plurality of penetrating regions within the substrate, and the plurality of conductive pathways are configured to allow current to pass through the first thickness.

According to one embodiment, a solar cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a light-absorbing layer, and a plurality of metal parts. The light-absorbing layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The metal parts are present on a surface of the first electrode opposing the second electrode. A void is provided in at least a part between the metal parts.

According to one embodiment, a solar cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a light-absorbing layer, and a plurality of metal parts. The light-absorbing layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The metal parts are present on a surface of the first electrode opposing the second electrode. A void is provided in at least a part between the metal parts.

A method of fabricating a solar cell is disclosed. The method can include forming a dielectric region on a surface of a solar cell structure and forming a metal layer on the dielectric layer. The method can also include configuring a laser beam with a particular shape and directing the laser beam with the particular shape on the metal layer, where the particular shape allows a contact to be formed between the metal layer and the solar cell structure.