JP2016027665A - Manufacturing method of p-type diffusion layer and manufacturing method of solar cell element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for forming a p-type diffusion layer and a manufacturing method of a solar cell element, wherein, in a manufacturing process of the solar cell element using a silicon substrate, warpage of the substrate can be suppressed and residues derived from a dispersion medium are reduced.SOLUTION: A p-type diffusion layer is formed on a silicon substrate by using a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing dispersion media and glass powders containing acceptor elements, and ultrasonic cleaning is carried out.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a p-type diffusion layer of a solar cell element, and a method for manufacturing a solar cell element. More specifically, the present invention relates to a p-type diffusion layer in which warpage of a substrate is suppressed and a residue derived from a dispersion medium is small. This is related to the forming technology.

The manufacturing process of the conventional silicon solar cell element is demonstrated.
First, a p-type silicon substrate having a textured structure is prepared so as to promote the light confinement effect and increase the efficiency, and then in a mixed gas atmosphere of phosphorus oxychloride (POCl ₃ ), nitrogen and oxygen, 800 ° C. to 900 ° C. An n-type diffusion layer is uniformly formed by performing several tens of minutes at a temperature. In this conventional method, since phosphorus is diffused using a mixed gas, n-type diffusion layers are formed not only on the surface but also on the side surface and the back surface. Therefore, side etching is performed to remove the n-type diffusion layer on the side surface. Further, the back surface of the n-type diffusion layer must be converted into the p ⁺ -type diffusion layer, an aluminum paste is printed on the back, by firing this, the n-type diffusion layer at the same time as the p ⁺ -type diffusion layer , Got ohmic contact.

  However, the aluminum paste has a low electrical conductivity, and in order to reduce the sheet resistance, the aluminum layer usually formed on the entire back surface must have a thickness of about 10 μm to 20 μm after firing. Furthermore, since the thermal expansion coefficients of silicon and aluminum differ greatly, a large internal stress is generated in the silicon substrate during the firing and cooling processes, causing damage to crystal boundaries, increasing crystal defects, and warping.

In order to solve this problem, there is a method of reducing the amount of aluminum paste applied and thinning the back electrode layer. However, when the amount of aluminum paste applied is reduced, the amount of aluminum diffusing from the surface of the p-type silicon semiconductor substrate becomes insufficient. As a result, the desired BSF (Back Surface Field) effect (the effect of improving the collection efficiency of the generated carriers due to the presence of the p ⁺ -type layer) cannot be achieved, resulting in a problem that the characteristics of the solar cell deteriorate.

  Therefore, for example, a paste composition comprising aluminum powder, an organic vehicle, and an inorganic compound powder having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of aluminum and any one of a melting temperature, a softening temperature and a decomposition temperature higher than the melting point of aluminum. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2003-223813

However, even when the paste composition described in Patent Document 1 is used, there is a case where warpage cannot be sufficiently suppressed.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and in the manufacturing process of a solar cell element using a silicon substrate, a p-type diffusion layer in which the warpage of the substrate is suppressed and the residue derived from the dispersion medium is small. It is an object to provide a manufacturing method for manufacturing and a method for manufacturing a solar cell element.

Means for solving the problems are as follows.
<1> A step of applying a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing a glass powder containing an acceptor element and a dispersion medium on a semiconductor substrate, a step of forming a p-type diffusion layer by applying a thermal diffusion treatment, and p Cleaning the semiconductor substrate on which the mold diffusion layer is formed with ultrasonic waves.
<2> The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to <1>, wherein the ultrasonic frequency is in a range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz.
<3> The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to <1> or <2>, wherein the cleaning is performed in a range of 1 minute to 60 minutes.
<4> The p according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the acceptor element is at least one selected from B (boron), Al (aluminum), and Ga (gallium). Manufacturing method of mold diffusion layer.
<5> The glass powder containing the acceptor element is at least one acceptor element-containing material selected from B ₂ O ₃ , Al ₂ O ₃ and Ga ₂ O ₃ , and SiO ₂ , K ₂ O, and Na ₂ O. And at least one glass component material selected from Li ₂ O, BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, BeO, ZnO, PbO, CdO, V ₂ O ₅ , SnO, ZrO ₂ and MoO ₃ , The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to any one of <1> to <4>.
<6> A step of applying a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing a glass powder containing an acceptor element and a dispersion medium on a semiconductor substrate, a step of forming a p-type diffusion layer by applying a thermal diffusion treatment, and p A method for manufacturing a solar cell element, comprising: a step of cleaning a semiconductor substrate on which a mold diffusion layer is formed with ultrasonic waves; and a step of forming an electrode on the formed p-type diffusion layer.

According to the present invention, by using a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing a glass powder containing an acceptor element and a dispersion medium, the internal stress generated in the silicon substrate is reduced and the substrate is warped. A p-type diffusion layer can be formed.
In addition, when an acceptor element containing glass powder and a dispersion medium is used, a part of the dispersion medium may remain as carbide, but by ultrasonically cleaning the substrate on which the p-type diffusion layer is formed, Residues can be removed.
Therefore, according to the present invention, in the manufacturing process of the solar cell element using the silicon substrate, it is possible to form the p-type diffusion layer in which the warpage of the substrate is suppressed and the residue derived from the dispersion medium is small.

First, the p-type diffusion layer forming composition used in the production method of the present invention will be described, and then the p-type diffusion layer production method and the solar cell element production method will be explained.
In this specification, the term “process” is not limited to an independent process, and is included in the term if the intended action of the process is achieved even when it cannot be clearly distinguished from other processes. . In the present specification, a numerical range indicated by using “to” indicates a range including the numerical values described before and after “to” as the minimum value and the maximum value, respectively. Further, when referring to the amount of each component in the composition in the present specification, when there are a plurality of substances corresponding to each component in the composition, the plurality of the components present in the composition unless otherwise specified. It means the total amount of substance.

The p-type diffusion layer forming composition of the present invention contains a glass powder containing at least an acceptor element (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “glass powder”) and a dispersion medium, and further considers applicability and the like. In addition, other additives may be contained as necessary.
Here, the p-type diffusion layer forming composition includes a glass powder containing an acceptor element, and a material capable of forming a p-type diffusion layer by thermally diffusing the acceptor element after being applied to a silicon substrate. Say. By using the p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing the acceptor element in the glass powder, the p ⁺ -type diffusion layer forming step and the ohmic contact forming step can be separated, and the choice of electrode materials for forming the ohmic contact is expanded. The choice of electrode structure is also widened. For example, if a low resistance material such as silver is used for the electrode, a low resistance can be achieved with a thin film thickness. Further, the electrodes need not be formed on the entire surface, and may be partially formed like a comb shape. As described above, by forming a partial shape such as a thin film or a comb shape, it is possible to reduce the internal stress generated in the silicon substrate and to form the p-type diffusion layer while suppressing the occurrence of the warp of the substrate. Become.

Therefore, if the p-type diffusion layer forming composition of the present invention is applied, a conventionally widely employed method, that is, printing an aluminum paste and firing it to turn the n-type diffusion layer into a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer. At the same time, the internal stress in the substrate that occurs in the method of obtaining the ohmic contact is reduced, and the occurrence of warpage of the substrate is suppressed.
Furthermore, since the acceptor component in the glass powder is not easily volatilized even during firing, the formation of a p-type diffusion layer other than the desired region due to the generation of the volatilizing gas is suppressed.

The glass powder containing the acceptor element according to the present invention will be described in detail.
An acceptor element is an element that can form a p-type diffusion layer by doping into a silicon substrate. As the acceptor element, a Group 13 element can be used, and examples thereof include B (boron), Al (aluminum), and Ga (gallium).

Examples of the acceptor element-containing material used for introducing the acceptor element into the glass powder include B ₂ O ₃ , Al ₂ O _3, and Ga ₂ O ₃ , and B ₂ O ₃ , Al ₂ O _3, and Ga ₂ O _3. It is preferable to use at least one selected from

Moreover, the glass powder containing an acceptor element can control a melting temperature, a softening temperature, a glass transition temperature, chemical durability, etc. by adjusting a component ratio as needed. Furthermore, it is preferable to contain the glass component substance described below.
Examples of glass component materials include SiO ₂ , K ₂ O, Na ₂ O, Li ₂ O, BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, BeO, ZnO, PbO, CdO, V ₂ O ₅ , SnO, ZrO ₂ , WO ₃ , Examples include MoO ₃ , MnO, La ₂ O ₃ , Nb ₂ O ₅ , Ta ₂ O ₅ , Y ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ , GeO ₂ , TeO _2, and Lu ₂ O _3. SiO ₂ , K ₂ O, It is preferable to use at least one selected from Na ₂ O, Li ₂ O, BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, BeO, ZnO, PbO, CdO, V ₂ O ₅ , SnO, ZrO ₂ and MoO ₃ .

Specific examples of the glass powder containing an acceptor element include a system containing both the acceptor element-containing substance and the glass component substance, and a B ₂ O ₃ —SiO ₂ system (in order of acceptor element-containing substance—glass component substance). System including B ₂ O ₃ as an acceptor element-containing substance such as a B ₂ O ₃ —ZnO system, a B ₂ O ₃ —PbO system, and a B ₂ O ₃ single system; Al ₂ O ₃ —SiO system including _{for Al} 2 _{O 3} acceptor element-containing substance such as _{2 system;} glass powders such as systems containing _{Ga 2 O 3} Ga ₂ O 3 as the acceptor element-containing substance -SiO ₂ system, and the like.
_Further, Al ₂ O 3 _-B 2 _{O 3 system,} Ga ₂ O 3 _-B as 2 _{O 3} system or the like, may be a glass powder containing two or more acceptor element-containing material.
In the above, a single component glass or a composite glass containing two components is exemplified, but a glass powder containing three or more components such as B ₂ O ₃ —SiO ₂ —Na ₂ O may be used.

  The content ratio of the glass component substance in the glass powder is preferably set as appropriate in consideration of the melting temperature, the softening temperature, the glass transition temperature, and the chemical durability, and is generally 0.1% by mass to 95% by mass. It is preferable that it is 0.5 mass% or more and 90 mass% or less.

  The softening temperature of the glass powder is preferably 200 ° C. to 1000 ° C., more preferably 300 ° C. to 900 ° C., from the viewpoints of diffusibility during the diffusion treatment and dripping.

Examples of the shape of the glass powder include a substantially spherical shape, a flat shape, a block shape, a plate shape, a scale shape, and the like. From the viewpoint of applicability to a substrate and uniform diffusibility when a p-type diffusion layer forming composition is used. It is desirable to have a substantially spherical shape, flat shape, or plate shape.
The particle size of the glass powder is desirably 50 μm or less. When glass powder having a particle size of 50 μm or less is used, a smooth coating film is easily obtained. Further, the particle size of the glass powder is more preferably 10 μm or less. The lower limit is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.01 μm or more.
Here, the particle diameter of glass represents an average particle diameter, and can be measured by a laser scattering diffraction particle size distribution measuring apparatus or the like.

The glass powder containing an acceptor element is produced by the following procedure.
First, weigh the ingredients and fill the crucible. Examples of the material for the crucible include platinum, platinum-rhodium, iridium, alumina, quartz, carbon, and the like, and are appropriately selected in consideration of the melting temperature, atmosphere, reactivity with the molten material, and the like.
Next, it heats with the temperature according to a glass composition with an electric furnace, and is set as a melt. At this time, it is desirable to stir the melt uniformly.
Subsequently, the obtained melt is poured onto a zirconia substrate, a carbon substrate or the like to vitrify the melt.
Finally, the glass is crushed into powder. A known method such as a jet mill, a bead mill, or a ball mill can be applied to the pulverization.

  The content ratio of the glass powder containing the acceptor element in the p-type diffusion layer forming composition is determined in consideration of applicability, acceptor element diffusibility, and the like. In general, the content ratio of the glass powder in the p-type diffusion layer forming composition is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 95% by mass or less, more preferably 1% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less, The content is more preferably 1.5% by mass or more and 85% by mass or less, and particularly preferably 2% by mass or more and 80% by mass or less.

Next, the dispersion medium will be described.
The dispersion medium is a medium in which the glass powder is dispersed in the composition. Specifically, a binder, a solvent, or the like is employed as the dispersion medium.

  Examples of the binder include polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides, polyvinylamides, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene oxides, polysulfonic acid, acrylamide alkylsulfonic acid, cellulose ethers, cellulose derivatives, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, gelatin, starch And starch derivatives, sodium alginate, xanthan, guar and gua derivatives, scleroglucan and scleroglucan derivatives, tragacanth and tragacanth derivatives, dextrin and dextrin derivatives, (meth) acrylic acid resins, (meth) acrylic acid ester resins (for example, Alkyl (meth) acrylate resin, dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate resin, etc.), butadiene resin , Styrene resins, copolymers thereof, siloxane resins, and the like can be selected as appropriate. These are used singly or in combination of two or more.

  The molecular weight of the binder is not particularly limited, and it is desirable to adjust appropriately in view of the desired viscosity of the composition.

  Examples of the solvent include acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl-n-propyl ketone, methyl-iso-propyl ketone, methyl-n-butyl ketone, methyl-iso-butyl ketone, methyl-n-pentyl ketone, methyl-n-hexyl ketone, Ketone solvents such as diethyl ketone, dipropyl ketone, di-iso-butyl ketone, trimethylnonanone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, methylcyclohexanone, 2,4-pentanedione, acetonylacetone; diethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, methyl -N-propyl ether, di-iso-propyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyltetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethyldioxane, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether Ter, ethylene glycol di-n-propyl ether, ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl n-propyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol di-n-propyl ether , Diethylene glycol di-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl-n-hexyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethylene glycol diethyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl ethyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl n-butyl ether, triethylene glycol di-n- Butyl ether, G Ethylene glycol methyl-n-hexyl ether, tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol diethyl ether, tetradiethylene glycol methyl ethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol methyl n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol di-n-butyl ether, tetraethylene glycol methyl n-hexyl Ether, tetraethylene glycol di-n-butyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, propylene glycol diethyl ether, propylene glycol di-n-propyl ether, propylene glycol dibutyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, dipropylene glycol diethyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ethyl Ether, zip Lopylene glycol methyl-n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol di-n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol di-n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl-n-hexyl ether, tripropylene glycol dimethyl ether, tripropylene glycol diethyl ether, tripropylene Glycol methyl ethyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl-n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol di-n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl-n-hexyl ether, tetrapropylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetrapropylene glycol diethyl ether, tetradipropylene glycol methyl ethyl Ether, tetrapropylene glycol methyl-n-butyl ether Ether solvents such as dipropylene glycol di-n-butyl ether, tetrapropylene glycol methyl-n-hexyl ether, tetrapropylene glycol di-n-butyl ether; methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, i-propyl acetate, acetic acid n-butyl, i-butyl acetate, sec-butyl acetate, n-pentyl acetate, sec-pentyl acetate, 3-methoxybutyl acetate, methylpentyl acetate, 2-ethylbutyl acetate, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, 2- (2- Butoxyethoxy) ethyl, benzyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, methyl cyclohexyl acetate, nonyl acetate, methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, diethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, dipropylene glycol acetate Methyl ether, dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, glycol diacetate, methoxytriglycol acetate, ethyl propionate, n-butyl propionate, i-amyl propionate, diethyl oxalate, di-n-butyl oxalate, lactic acid Methyl, ethyl lactate, n-butyl lactate, n-amyl lactate, ethylene glycol methyl ether propionate, ethylene glycol ethyl ether propionate, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene Ester solvents such as glycol ethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol propyl ether acetate, γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone; N-methylpyrrolidinone, N-ethylpyrrolidinone, N-propylpyrrolidinone, N-butylpyrrolidinone, N-hexylpyrrolidinone, N-cyclohexylpyrrolidinone, N, N-dimethylformamide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N- Aprotic polar solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide; methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, n-butanol, i-butanol, sec-butanol, t-butanol, n-pentanol, i-pentanol, 2- Methylbutanol, sec-pentanol, t-pentanol, 3-methoxybutanol, n-hexanol, 2-methylpentanol, sec-hexanol, 2-ethylbutanol, sec-heptanol, n-octanol, 2-ethylhexanol Nord, sec-octanol, n-nonyl alcohol, n-decanol, sec-undecyl alcohol, trimethylnonyl alcohol, sec-tetradecyl alcohol, sec-heptadecyl alcohol, phenol, cyclohexanol, methylcyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, ethylene Alcohol solvents such as glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol; ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monophenyl Ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, polyethylene Glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-n-hexyl ether, ethoxytriglycol, tetraethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, tripropylene glycol monomethyl Glycol monoether solvents such as ether; α-terpinene, α-terpineol, myrcene, alloocimene, limonene, dipentene, α-pinene, β-pinene, terpineol, carvone, ocimene, ferrandrene, and other terpene solvents; Can be mentioned. These are used singly or in combination of two or more.

  The constitution and content ratio of the dispersion medium in the p-type diffusion layer forming composition are determined in consideration of applicability and acceptor concentration.

  The viscosity of the p-type diffusion layer forming composition is preferably 10 mPa · s to 1,000,000 mPa · s, more preferably 50 mPa · s to 500,000 mPa · s in consideration of applicability.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the p-type diffused layer and solar cell element of this invention is demonstrated.

First, an alkaline solution is applied to a silicon substrate which is a p-type semiconductor substrate to remove a damaged layer, and a texture structure is obtained by etching.
Specifically, the damaged layer on the silicon surface generated when slicing from the ingot is removed with 20% by mass caustic soda. Next, etching is performed with a mixed solution of 1% by mass caustic soda and 10% by mass isopropyl alcohol to form a texture structure. In the solar cell element, by forming a texture structure on the light receiving surface (surface) side, a light confinement effect is promoted, and high efficiency is achieved.

Next, several tens of minutes are performed at 800 ° C. to 900 ° C. in a mixed gas atmosphere of phosphorus oxychloride (POCl ₃ ), nitrogen, and oxygen to uniformly form an n-type diffusion layer. At this time, in the method using the phosphorus oxychloride atmosphere, the diffusion of phosphorus extends to the side surface and the back surface, and the n-type diffusion layer is formed not only on the surface but also on the side surface and the back surface. Therefore, side etching is performed to remove the side n-type diffusion layer.

Then, the p-type diffusion layer forming composition is applied onto the n-type diffusion layer on the back surface of the p-type semiconductor substrate, that is, the surface that is not the light receiving surface. In the present invention, the coating method is not limited, and examples thereof include a printing method, a spin method, a brush coating, a spray method, a doctor blade method, a roll coater method, and an ink jet method.
Is not particularly limited as coated amount of the p-type diffusion layer forming composition, for example, be a 0.01g ^{/ m 2} ~100g ^/ m 2 as a glass powder content, 0.1 g ^/ m 2 to 10 g / M ² is preferable.

Depending on the composition of the p-type diffusion layer forming composition, a drying step for volatilizing the solvent contained in the composition may be necessary after coating. In this case, drying is performed at a temperature of about 80 ° C. to 300 ° C. for about 1 minute to 10 minutes when using a hot plate, and about 10 minutes to 30 minutes when using a dryer or the like. The drying conditions depend on the solvent composition of the p-type diffusion layer forming composition and are not particularly limited to the above conditions in the present invention.
Moreover, when a resin binder is employ | adopted as a dispersion medium in a p-type diffused layer formation composition, the removal process for removing a resin binder may be required after drying. In this case, heat treatment is performed using an electric furnace at a temperature of about 300 ° C. to 600 ° C. for about 1 minute to 30 minutes. This heat treatment condition depends on the composition of the glass and binder of the p-type diffusion layer forming composition, and is not particularly limited to the above condition in the present invention.

Next, the semiconductor substrate coated with the p-type diffusion layer forming composition is heat-treated at 600 ° C. to 1200 ° C. By this heat treatment, the acceptor element diffuses into the semiconductor substrate, and a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer is formed. A known continuous furnace, batch furnace, or the like can be applied to the heat treatment.
Since a glass layer is formed on the surface of the p ⁺ type diffusion layer, the glass is removed by etching. As the etching, a known method such as a method of immersing in an acid such as hydrofluoric acid or a method of immersing in an alkali such as caustic soda can be applied.

A black residue may be seen on the surface of the p ⁺ type diffusion layer formed through the above-described series of steps. This residue is the one in which at least a part of the dispersion medium contained in the p-type diffusion layer forming composition cannot be removed by any of the heat treatments described above, is taken into the softened glass, and remains as a carbide on the semiconductor substrate. It is guessed. Therefore, in order to remove the residue, ultrasonic cleaning is performed on the silicon substrate on which the p ⁺ type diffusion layer is formed.

The solvent used for ultrasonic cleaning is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include pure water and ethanol. The semiconductor substrate on which the p ⁺ type diffusion layer is formed is immersed in these solvents, and ultrasonic waves are applied.
The frequency of the ultrasonic wave used for cleaning is not particularly limited, but is preferably 20 kHz to 100 kHz, and more preferably 30 kHz to 50 kHz, considering the impact on the inside of the wafer and the magnitude of calibration. Moreover, it may be implemented by combining a plurality of frequencies such as applying 24 kHz and 31 kHz at the same time, and the same effect can be obtained.
The ultrasonic cleaning time is not particularly limited, but is preferably not too long in consideration of the impact given to the substrate having the p ⁺ type diffusion layer, preferably 1 to 60 minutes, considering shortening of the process time. Then, it is more preferable to set it as 1 minute-5 minutes.

  Ultrasonic cleaning may be performed during etching of the glass in an etching solution (acid such as hydrofluoric acid, alkali such as caustic soda). In this case, a glass layer such as borate glass and carbides can be removed at the same time, and the same effect as when ultrasonic cleaning is performed after etching can be obtained. Furthermore, the number of steps can be simplified.

In the conventional manufacturing method, an aluminum paste is printed on the back surface, and this is baked to change the n-type diffusion layer into a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer, and at the same time, an ohmic contact is obtained. However, since the electrical conductivity of the aluminum paste is low, the sheet resistance must be lowered, and the aluminum layer usually formed on the entire back surface must have a thickness of about 10 μm to 20 μm after firing. Furthermore, since the thermal expansion coefficients of silicon and aluminum differ greatly, a large internal stress is generated in the silicon substrate during the firing and cooling process, causing warpage.
This internal stress has a problem that the crystal grain boundary is damaged and the power loss increases. Further, the warpage easily damages the solar cell element in the transportation of the solar cell element in the module process and the connection with a copper wire called a tab wire. In recent years, the thickness of the silicon substrate has been reduced due to the improvement of the slice processing technique, and the solar cell element tends to be easily broken.
On the other hand, in the manufacturing method of the present invention, after the n-type diffusion layer is converted into the p ⁺ -type diffusion layer by the p-type diffusion layer forming composition of the present invention, an electrode is separately formed on the p ⁺ -type diffusion layer. Provide. Therefore, the material used for the back electrode is not limited to aluminum. For example, Ag (silver) or Cu (copper) can be applied, and the thickness of the back electrode can be made thinner than the conventional one. Further, it is not necessary to form the entire surface. Therefore, it is possible to reduce internal stress and warpage in the silicon substrate that occur during the firing and cooling processes.

An antireflection film is formed on the n-type diffusion layer formed as described above. The antireflection film is formed by applying a known technique. For example, when the antireflection film is a silicon nitride film, it is formed by a plasma CVD method using a mixed gas of SiH ₄ and NH ₃ as a raw material. At this time, hydrogen diffuses into the crystal, and orbits that do not contribute to the bonding of silicon atoms, that is, dangling bonds and hydrogen are combined to inactivate defects (hydrogen passivation).
More specifically, the mixed gas flow rate ratio NH ₃ / SiH ₄ is 0.05 to 1.0, the reaction chamber pressure is 13.3 Pa (0.1 Torr) to 266.6 Pa (2 Torr), It is formed under conditions where the temperature is 300 ° C. to 550 ° C. and the frequency for plasma discharge is 100 kHz or more.

  On the antireflection film on the surface (light receiving surface), the surface electrode metal paste is printed, applied and dried by a screen printing method to form a surface electrode. The metal paste for a surface electrode contains metal particles and glass particles as essential components, and includes a resin binder and other additives as necessary.

Next, a back electrode is also formed on the p ⁺ -type diffusion layer on the back surface. As described above, in the present invention, the material and forming method of the back electrode are not particularly limited. For example, a back electrode paste containing a metal such as aluminum, silver, or copper may be applied and dried to form the back electrode. At this time, a silver paste for forming a silver electrode may be partially provided on the back surface for connection between solar cell elements in the module process.

  The electrode is fired to complete the solar cell element. When fired in the range of 600 ° C. to 900 ° C. for several seconds to several minutes, the antireflective film, which is an insulating film, is melted by the glass particles contained in the electrode metal paste on the surface side, and the silicon surface is also partially melted. The metal particles (for example, silver particles) inside form a contact portion with the silicon substrate and solidify. Thereby, the formed surface electrode and the silicon substrate are electrically connected. This is called fire-through.

The shape of the surface electrode will be described. The surface electrode includes a bus bar electrode and a finger electrode that intersects the bus bar electrode.
Such a surface electrode can be formed by means such as screen printing of the above-described metal paste, plating of the electrode material, or vapor deposition of the electrode material by electron beam heating in a high vacuum. A surface electrode composed of a bus bar electrode and a finger electrode is generally used as an electrode on the light receiving surface side and is well known, and known forming means for the bus bar electrode and the finger electrode on the light receiving surface side can be applied.

In the above-described method for manufacturing a p-type diffusion layer and a solar cell element, a mixed gas of phosphorus oxychloride (POCl ₃ ), nitrogen and oxygen is used to form an n-type diffusion layer on a silicon substrate which is a p-type semiconductor substrate. Although used, the n-type diffusion layer may be formed using the n-type diffusion layer forming composition. The n-type diffusion layer forming composition contains a Group 15 element such as P (phosphorus) or Sb (antimony) as a donor element.
In the method using the n-type diffusion layer forming composition for forming the n-type diffusion layer, first, the n-type diffusion layer forming composition is applied to the light-receiving surface which is the surface of the p-type semiconductor substrate, and the p-type of the present invention is applied to the back surface. The diffusion layer forming composition is applied and heat-treated at 600 ° C to 1200 ° C. By this heat treatment, the donor element diffuses into the p-type semiconductor substrate on the front surface to form an n-type diffusion layer, and the acceptor element diffuses on the back surface to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer. Except for this step, a solar cell element is produced by the same steps as those described above.

  Examples of the present invention will be described more specifically below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Unless otherwise stated, all chemicals used reagents.

[Example 1]
B ₂ O ₃ —SiO ₂ —RO (R: Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) glass powder (trade name: TMX-603) having a substantially spherical particle shape, an average particle diameter of 3.2 μm, and a softening temperature of 815 ° C. 9 g of Toago Material Technology Co., Ltd.), 1.4 g of ethyl cellulose, and 19.6 g of terpineol were mixed using an automatic mortar kneader to make a paste to prepare a p-type diffusion layer forming composition. did.

  The glass particle shape was determined by observing with a TM-1000 scanning electron microscope manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation. The average particle size of the glass was calculated using a LS 13 320 type laser scattering diffraction particle size distribution analyzer (measurement wavelength: 632 nm) manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc. The softening temperature of the glass was obtained from a differential heat (DTA) curve using a DTG-60H type differential heat / thermogravimetric simultaneous measuring device manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation.

  Next, the prepared paste was applied to the surface of a p-type silicon substrate having an n-type layer formed on the surface by screen printing, and dried on a hot plate at 150 ° C. for 5 minutes to form a layer having a thickness of about 15 μm. Then, it heated for 1.5 minutes with the electric furnace set to 500 degreeC, and removed the binder. Then, thermal diffusion treatment was performed for 30 minutes in another electric furnace for diffusion set at 950 ° C., and then the substrate was immersed in hydrofluoric acid for 5 minutes in order to remove the glass layer. Then, it was immersed in pure water, washed with ultrasonic waves of 42 kHz for 3 minutes, and dried.

The sheet resistance on the surface on which the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was applied was 60Ω / □, and B (boron) diffused to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer.
The sheet resistance was measured by a four-probe method using a Loresta-EP MCP-T360 type low resistivity meter manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation.

When the surface on which the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was applied was observed visually and by SEM and the presence or absence of a residue was examined, no residue was found on the silicon substrate. However, residues were observed on the silicon substrate after immersion in hydrofluoric acid and before ultrasonic cleaning.
In addition, Philips XL30 was used for SEM (scanning electron microscope).

[Example 2]
A p-type diffusion layer was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the ultrasonic cleaning time was 30 minutes.
The sheet resistance of the surface on which the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was applied was 64Ω / □, and B diffused to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer.
When the presence or absence of a residue was examined in the same manner as in Example 1, no residue was found on the silicon substrate. However, residues were observed on the silicon substrate after immersion in hydrofluoric acid and before ultrasonic cleaning.

[Example 3]
A p-type diffusion layer was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the ultrasonic wave for ultrasonic cleaning was changed to 20 kHz.
The sheet resistance on the surface on which the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was applied was 63Ω / □, and B diffused to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer.
When the presence or absence of a residue was examined in the same manner as in Example 1, no residue was found on the silicon substrate. However, residues were observed on the silicon substrate after immersion in hydrofluoric acid and before ultrasonic cleaning.

[Example 4]
The process up to the thermal diffusion treatment was performed in the same manner as in Example 1, and the glass layer was removed and the ultrasonic cleaning was performed by applying ultrasonic waves of 42 kHz while the thermal diffusion treated substrate was immersed in hydrofluoric acid for 1 minute. It was. Then, it was immersed in pure water and dried.
The sheet resistance on the surface coated with the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was 65Ω / □, and B diffused to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer.
When the presence or absence of a residue was examined in the same manner as in Example 1, no residue was found on the silicon substrate.

[Example 5]
A p-type diffusion layer was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the ultrasonic cleaning time was set to 70 minutes.
The sheet resistance of the surface on which the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was applied was 67Ω / □, and B diffused to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer.
When the presence or absence of a residue was examined in the same manner as in Example 1, no residue was found on the silicon substrate. However, residues were observed on the silicon substrate after immersion in hydrofluoric acid and before ultrasonic cleaning.
In addition, cracks and cracks were observed on some silicon substrates.

[Example 6]
A p-type diffusion layer was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the ultrasonic wave in the ultrasonic cleaning step was changed to 15 kHz.
The sheet resistance of the surface on which the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was applied was 62Ω / □, and B diffused to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer.
When the presence or absence of a residue was examined in the same manner as in Example 1, no residue was found on the silicon substrate. However, residues were observed on the silicon substrate after immersion in hydrofluoric acid and before ultrasonic cleaning.
In addition, cracks and cracks were observed on some silicon substrates.

[Comparative Example 1]
A p-type diffusion layer was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that ultrasonic cleaning was not performed.
The sheet resistance of the surface on which the p-type diffusion layer forming composition was applied was 64Ω / □, and B diffused to form a p ⁺ -type diffusion layer.
When the presence or absence of a residue was examined in the same manner as in Example 1, a black residue was found on the silicon substrate.

Means for solving the problems are as follows.
<1> A step of applying a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing a glass powder containing an acceptor element and a dispersion medium on a semiconductor substrate; and a thermal diffusion treatment on the semiconductor substrate coated with the p-type diffusion layer forming composition A step of forming a p-type diffusion layer, and a semiconductor substrate on which the p-type diffusion layer is formed is cleaned by ultrasonic waves in a glass etching solution, and is formed on the surface of the p-type diffusion layer by thermal diffusion treatment. And a step of removing the residue derived from the dispersion medium .
<2> The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to <1>, wherein the ultrasonic frequency is in a range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz.
<3> The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to <1> or <2>, wherein the cleaning is performed in a range of 1 minute to 60 minutes.
<4> The p according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the acceptor element is at least one selected from B (boron), Al (aluminum), and Ga (gallium). Manufacturing method of mold diffusion layer.
<5> The glass powder containing the acceptor element is at least one acceptor element-containing material selected from B ₂ O ₃ , Al ₂ O ₃ and Ga ₂ O ₃ , and SiO ₂ , K ₂ O, and Na ₂ O. And at least one glass component material selected from Li ₂ O, BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, BeO, ZnO, PbO, CdO, V ₂ O ₅ , SnO, ZrO ₂ and MoO ₃ , The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to any one of <1> to <4>.
<6> A step of applying a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing a glass powder containing an acceptor element and a dispersion medium on a semiconductor substrate; and a thermal diffusion treatment on the semiconductor substrate coated with the p-type diffusion layer forming composition. A step of forming a p-type diffusion layer, and a semiconductor substrate on which the p-type diffusion layer is formed is cleaned by ultrasonic waves in a glass etching solution, and is formed on the surface of the p-type diffusion layer by thermal diffusion treatment. The manufacturing method of the solar cell element which has the process of removing the glass layer and the residue derived from a dispersion medium, and the process of forming an electrode on the formed p-type diffusion layer.

Examples of the present invention will be described more specifically below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Unless otherwise stated, all chemicals used reagents. Examples 1-3, 5 and 6 are shown as reference examples.

Claims (6)

Applying a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing a glass powder containing an acceptor element and a dispersion medium on a semiconductor substrate;
Applying a thermal diffusion treatment to form a p-type diffusion layer;
cleaning the semiconductor substrate on which the p-type diffusion layer is formed with ultrasonic waves;
The manufacturing method of the p-type diffused layer which has this.   The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic frequency is in a range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz.   The method for producing a p-type diffusion layer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning is performed in a range of 1 minute to 60 minutes.   4. The p-type diffusion layer according to claim 1, wherein the acceptor element is at least one selected from B (boron), Al (aluminum), and Ga (gallium). 5. Production method. The glass powder containing the acceptor element is at least one acceptor element-containing substance selected from B ₂ O ₃ , Al ₂ O ₃ and Ga ₂ O ₃ , and SiO ₂ , K ₂ O, Na ₂ O, Li _2. And at least one glass component material selected from O, BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, BeO, ZnO, PbO, CdO, V ₂ O ₅ , SnO, ZrO ₂ and MoO _3. The manufacturing method of the p-type diffused layer of any one of Claim 4. Applying a p-type diffusion layer forming composition containing a glass powder containing an acceptor element and a dispersion medium on a semiconductor substrate;
Applying a thermal diffusion treatment to form a p-type diffusion layer;
cleaning the semiconductor substrate on which the p-type diffusion layer is formed with ultrasonic waves;
Forming an electrode on the formed p-type diffusion layer;
The manufacturing method of the solar cell element which has this.