US Patent 9837561 Laser processed back contact heterojunction solar cells

An interdigitated solar cell may provide a heterojunction or tunnel junction emitter and base contacts that comprise laser processed regions that electrically couple the base contact to a substrate. Methods for manufacturing such solar cells to provide interdigitated back contacts may utilize laser processing to form laser processed regions that are isolated from the emitter. Laser processing may include laser-doping, laser-firing, laser-transfer, laser-transfer doping, laser contacting, and/or gas immersion laser doping.