Solar cell and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A solar cell includes a solar cell substrate including a principal surface on which a p-type surface and an n-type surface are exposed, a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion linearly extending in a first direction, and an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface and including a second linear portion linearly extending in the first direction and arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions are formed in a chamfered shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar cell comprising:
 a solar cell substrate including a p-type surface and an n-type surface formed on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate;   a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion linearly extending in a first direction; and   an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface and including a second linear portion linearly extending in the first direction and arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, such that corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions are formed in a chamfered shape.   
     
     
         2 . The solar cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the corners of the tip ends of the first and second linear portions are formed in a round shape. 
     
     
         3 . The solar cell according to  claim 2 , wherein the tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions is formed in a semicircular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The solar cell according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the p-side electrode further comprises a first bus bar to which the first linear portion is connected,   the n-side electrode further comprises a second bus bar to which the second linear portion is connected, and   corners of a connection portion between at least one of the first and second linear portions and the corresponding one of the first and second bus bars are formed in a round shape.   
     
     
         5 . The solar cell according to  claim 4 , wherein
 each of the first and second bus bars is arranged so as to face the corresponding one of the second and first linear portions in the first direction, and   a portion of at least one of the first and second bus bars facing a tip end of the corresponding one of the second and first linear portions in the first direction is formed in a shape corresponding to the tip end.   
     
     
         6 . The solar cell according to  claim 4 , wherein corners of the first and second bus bars are formed in a round shape. 
     
     
         7 . The solar cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the p-type surface and the n-type surface have patterns corresponding to the p-side electrode and the n-side electrode, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a solar cell including: a solar cell substrate including a p-type surface and an n-type surface formed on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate; a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion linearly extending in a first direction; and an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface and including a second linear portion linearly extending in the first direction and arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions being formed in a round shape, the method comprising
 obtaining the at least one of the first and second linear portions having the corners of the tip end formed in the round shape, by forming an electroplated coating on a seed layer provided on the p-type or n-type surface, the seed layer having corners of its tip end formed in a round shape.   
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a solar cell comprises:
 forming a seed layer on a-type or n-type surface of a solar cell substrate such that corners of a tip end of the seed layer are formed in a round shape; and   forming an electroplated coating on the seed layer, thereby forming an electrode on the-type or n-type surface whose tip end has corners formed in a round shape.   
     
     
         10 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell according to  claim 9 , wherein the electroplated coating is formed by electroplating. 
     
     
         11 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell according to  claim 10 , further comprises:
 forming a p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and an n-type amorphous semiconductor layer on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate, wherein   the seed layer is formed on the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer.   
     
     
         12 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell according to  claim 11 , further comprises:
 forming an i-type amorphous semiconductor layer on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate, wherein   at least one of the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer is formed on the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer.   
     
     
         13 . The solar cell according to  claim 5 , further comprising
 a p-type amorphous semiconductor layer in the p-type surface;   an n-type amorphous semiconductor layer in the n-type surface; wherein   the p-side electrode is formed on the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-side electrode is formed on the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer.   
     
     
         14 . The solar cell according to  claim 13 , further comprising
 i-type amorphous semiconductor layer on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate; wherein   at least one of the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer is formed on the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer.