Progress on the LOPE (local point contact and shallow angle evaporation) silicon solar cell

The LOPE-Solar cell concept is based on a V-textured front surface with local point contacts which are interconnected by the SAFE (shallow angle finger evaporation) technique after a heavy phosphorus diffusion. Three dimensional computer simulations were carried out to examine the influence of the point contact distance parallel and perpendicular to the V-grooves. Additionally two different emitters, two different sheet resistances under the metal contact and a small and a larger contact area were investigated. A plating sequence for Ni-plating has been successfully implemented in the LOPE-cell process to complete the metallisation of the local openings. A detailed characterisation of the LOPE-cell is presented