Screen Printed Contacts To Iii-V Epilayers For Low Cost Photovoltaics

MicroLink Devices has deposited Ag contacts via screen printing on n-GaAs epilayers on 150 mm GaAs wafers. We print either directly on n-GaAs or on an electron-beam evaporated seed layer. After annealing and self-aligned etch back, we achieve printed spaces of 70 gm, contact resistances of <1 SL, and specific contact resistivities of similar to 1x10(-3) Omega cm(2). Our results demonstrate an alternative, low-cost, and high-throughput method for contacting III-V solar cells.