SURFACE PASSIVATED PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photovoltaic device (10) comprising a photovoltaic cell (12). SOLUTION: A photovoltaic cell (12) comprises an emitter layer (16) including a crystalline semiconductor material, and a lightly-doped crystalline substrate (22) disposed adjacent to the emitter layer (16). The lightly-doped crystalline substrate (22) and the emitter layer (16) are oppositely doped. A photovoltaic device (10) includes a back surface passivated structure (14) coupled to the photovoltaic cell (12). The structure includes a highly-doped back surface field layer (24) disposed adjacent to the lightly-doped crystalline substrate (22). The highly-doped back surface field layer (24) and the lightly-doped crystalline substrate (22) are similarly doped, and the doping level of the highly-doped back surface field layer (24) is higher than that of the lightly-doped crystalline substrate (22). The structure includes an intrinsic back surface passivated layer (26) disposed adjacent to the lightly-doped crystalline substrate (22). COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT