CN107394003A - The method for manufacturing solar cell - Google Patents

The method for manufacturing solar cell Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN107394003A
CN107394003A CN201610326328.1A CN201610326328A CN107394003A CN 107394003 A CN107394003 A CN 107394003A CN 201610326328 A CN201610326328 A CN 201610326328A CN 107394003 A CN107394003 A CN 107394003A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
layer
solar cell
doped layer
face
semiconductor substrate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
CN201610326328.1A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
吴兴华
潘赠傑
洪光辉
林纲正
黄桂武
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gintech Energy Corp
Original Assignee
Gintech Energy Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gintech Energy Corp filed Critical Gintech Energy Corp
Priority to CN201610326328.1A priority Critical patent/CN107394003A/en
Publication of CN107394003A publication Critical patent/CN107394003A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/18Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L31/1804Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof comprising only elements of Group IV of the Periodic System
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/02Details
    • H01L31/0224Electrodes
    • H01L31/022408Electrodes for devices characterised by at least one potential jump barrier or surface barrier
    • H01L31/022425Electrodes for devices characterised by at least one potential jump barrier or surface barrier for solar cells
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/06Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier
    • H01L31/068Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the potential barriers being only of the PN homojunction type, e.g. bulk silicon PN homojunction solar cells or thin film polycrystalline silicon PN homojunction solar cells
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/18Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L31/186Particular post-treatment for the devices, e.g. annealing, impurity gettering, short-circuit elimination, recrystallisation
    • H01L31/1864Annealing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/18Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L31/186Particular post-treatment for the devices, e.g. annealing, impurity gettering, short-circuit elimination, recrystallisation
    • H01L31/1872Recrystallisation
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y02E10/547Monocrystalline silicon PV cells
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A kind of method for manufacturing solar cell, is comprised the steps of:Semiconductor substrate is provided, semiconductor substrate has one first face and one second face;Then, one first doped layer is formed on the first face of semiconductor substrate;Then, an electrode is formed on the first doped layer;Then a film layer is deposited on the second face of semiconductor substrate;One second doped layer is re-formed on film layer;And the second doped layer is irradiated using a high-energy light source, at least a portion of the dopant of the second doped layer is diffused to the second face of film layer and semiconductor substrate, to form a heavily doped region.Manufactured solar cell has higher photoelectric conversion rate.

Description

The method for manufacturing solar cell
Technical field
The present invention is on a kind of method for manufacturing solar cell, especially with regard to one kind using laser in too The method of the manufacture solar cell of the shady face selective doping of positive energy battery.
Background technology
Solar cell is by incident light irradiation, makes to produce electron hole pair, Ran Hou at its p-n junction Electron hole pair in conjunction with being conducted to outer electrode before, to accumulate current forms, is formed electric power and is supplied The source answered.
For conventional solar cell when backplate is made, its fabrication steps is in the back side of semiconductor substrate Vapour deposition one passivation layer (passivation layer) and an amorphous (amorphous) disilicide layer is learned, then in mixing After miscellaneous processing procedure, the amorphous disilicide layer for making deposition using boiler tube thermal oxide and annealing process crystallizes, to reduce resistance It is anti-, photoelectric conversion rate is lifted, but the effect that the preparation method of traditional back electrode not only crystallizes is limited, nothing Method effectively reduces impedance, and when thermal oxide and annealing process, the dopant of backplate can be also diffused into Front electrode, the performance of opto-electronic conversion is influenceed, therefore, is badly in need of a kind of method for manufacturing solar cell at present, To solve the missing of classical production process, and lift the photoelectric conversion rate of solar cell.
The content of the invention
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide it is a kind of manufacture solar cell method, comprising:Semiconductor is provided Substrate, the semiconductor substrate have one first face and one second face;One first doped layer is formed in semiconductor-based On first face of plate;An electrode is formed on the first doped layer;A film layer is deposited in semiconductor substrate On second face;One second doped layer is formed on film layer, the second doped layer includes a dopant;With And the second doped layer is irradiated using a high-energy light source, make at least a portion of the dopant of the second doped layer The second face of film layer and semiconductor substrate is diffused to, and forms a kind of doped region.Disclosed herein Solar cell has higher photoelectric conversion rate.
In one or more embodiments, being irradiated the second doped layer using high-energy light source and included makes the second doping Layer produces crystallization.
In one or more embodiments, film layer is by chemical vapor deposition or physical vapour deposition (PVD) shape Into.
In one or more embodiments, high-energy light source is laser.
In one or more embodiments, film layer is silicon nitride or silica.
In one or more embodiments, the thickness of film layer is less than about 2 nanometers.
In one or more embodiments, dopant includes carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, halogen or its combination.
In one or more embodiments, the method for manufacture solar cell of the invention is further comprising formation One first anti-reflecting layer is on the first doped layer;And one conductive metal layer of coating is in the first anti-reflecting layer and the On two doped layers.
In one or more embodiments, conductive metal layer is copper, aluminium, titanium, silver or gold.
In one or more embodiments, the method for manufacture solar cell of the invention is further comprising formation One second anti-reflecting layer is on the second doped layer.
Brief description of the drawings
To make above and other purpose, feature, advantage and the embodiment of present invention more to become apparent, Appended accompanying drawing is described as follows:
Fig. 1 is the flow chart according to the manufacture method of the solar cell depicted in one embodiment of the invention Schematic diagram;
Fig. 2~8 are each systems according to the manufacture method of the solar cell depicted in one embodiment of the invention The diagrammatic cross-section in journey stage.
Embodiment
Multiple embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed with accompanying drawing below, as clearly stated, in many practices Details will be explained in the following description.It should be appreciated, however, that the details in these practices is not applied To limit the present invention.That is, in some embodiments of the present invention, the details right and wrong in these practices It is necessary.In addition, for the sake of simplifying accompanying drawing, some known usual structures in the accompanying drawings will be with letter with element The mode singly illustrated illustrates.
An aspect of of the present present invention is providing a kind of method for manufacturing solar cell, the step 110 of reference picture 1 And Fig. 2, present invention firstly provides semiconductor substrate 200, its have the first face 210 relative to each other and Second face 220, after completing to manufacture solar cell, the first face is the side to light of solar cell, the Two faces 220 are the shady face of solar cell.According to some embodiments of the present invention, semiconductor substrate 200 Can be silicon substrate, such as monocrystalline silicon substrate, polycrystalline silicon substrate or amorphous silicon substrate.In certain embodiments, Semiconductor substrate 200 can be the silicon substrate of n-type or p-type.
In certain embodiments, can be carried out slightly in the first face 210 of semiconductor substrate 200 and the second face 220 Roughening processing procedure, to reduce the reflectivity of incident light.Such as chemical acid etching processing procedure (etching solvent can be used Can be hydrofluoric acid or nitric acid) or the alkaline etch process (etching solvent can be potassium hydroxide or isopropanol) of chemistry it is right First face 210 of semiconductor substrate 200 and the second face 220 carry out roughening processing procedure, so that semiconductor substrate 200 have the first coarse face 210 and the second face 220 (as shown in Figure 1).
Then, the step 120 of reference picture 1 and Fig. 2, the first face 210 of semiconductor substrate 200 is carried out from Sub- implant is to form the first doped layer 300 on the first face 210 of semiconductor substrate 200.In some implementations Example in, when semiconductor substrate 200 is p-type silicon substrate, using ion implant mode adulterate n-type adulterate from Son on the first face 210 of semiconductor substrate 200 to form the first doped layer 300 of n-type;Work as semiconductor When substrate is n-type silicon substrate, then the first face 210 of doped p type Doped ions to semiconductor substrate 200 On to form the first doped layer 300 of p-type, whereby formed p-n junction in semiconductor substrate 200 and first Between doped layer 210.
Afterwards, the step 130 of reference picture 1 and Fig. 3, in forming an electrode 500 on the first doped layer 300. Being formed for electrode 500 can utilize the mode of plating or elargol wire mark to be formed.Electrode can be bus electrode (Bus Bar electrode) or finger electrode (Finger Electrode), it is preferable using finger electrode, reduces whereby to entering Penetrate the masking of light.And the material of electrode can be nickel, copper, silver, aluminium, titanium, other can be electrode conduction material Matter or its combination.
In certain embodiments, can be further in one first anti-reflecting layer of formation on the first doped layer 300 (Anti-Reflection layer) 400 (as shown in Figure 3), it can not only reduce the volume reflection of incident light, also may be used Completely cut off the electron hole pair in the face of solar cell first in conjunction with effect, and then lift photoelectric conversion rate.First The material of anti-reflecting layer 400 can be nitride (such as silicon nitride), oxide (such as silica) or other materials The multilayer film (such as titanium oxide and aluminum oxide) of matter is stacked and formed.In certain embodiments, the first anti-reflecting layer 400 formation can pass through wet oxidation (Wet Oxidation), dry oxidation (Dry Oxidation), chemical gas The mutually side such as deposition (CVD), plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) or physical vapour deposition (PVD) (PVD) Made by method.
Then, the step 140 of reference picture 1 and Fig. 4, deposited on the second face 220 of semiconductor substrate 200 One film layer 600.Film layer 600 can prevent electron hole pair in conjunction with effect, to increase photoelectric conversion rate, It is tunneling with sharp electron hole pair about less than 2 nanometers and the thickness of film layer 600 should not be too thick.One In a little embodiments, film layer can by wet oxidation (Wet Oxidation), dry oxidation (Dry Oxidation), Chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) or physical vapour deposition (PVD) (PVD) The methods of formed, wherein to be formed as preferable using chemical gaseous phase depositing process.In certain embodiments, it is thin The material of film layer 600 can be silicon, nitride (such as silicon nitride), oxide (such as silica).
Then, the step 150 of reference picture 1 and Fig. 5, formed one second doped layer 700 in film layer 600 it On, the second doped layer 700 includes a dopant, in certain embodiments, dopant can be silicon, carbon, Oxygen, nitrogen, halogen etc. or its combination.And the second doped layer 700 be using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), etc. Ion assisted chemical is vapor-deposited (PECVD) or formed the methods of physical vapour deposition (PVD) (PVD), wherein with profit Be formed as preferable with chemical gaseous phase depositing process.The material of second doped layer 700 can be silicon, nitride (example Such as silicon nitride), oxide (such as silica).
Afterwards, the step 160 of reference picture 1 and Fig. 6, the second doped layer 700 is irradiated using high-energy light source, At least a portion of the dopant of the second doped layer 700 is set to diffuse to film layer 600 and semiconductor substrate 200 the second face 220 is to form a heavily doped region 710.High-energy light source irradiates the second doped layer 700 can Second doped layer 700 is irradiated with selectively formed heavily doped region 710 in film layer 600 and half with local strengthening In second face 220 of conductor substrate 200, and can using the irradiation energy and time for controlling high-energy light source come The concentration of the dopant of control heavily doped region 710 to be doped into, is adulterated by increasing in heavily doped region 710 The concentration of material reduces the impedance of solar cell, and then lift opto-electronic conversion to increase back surface field effect Rate.In addition, coming from the second doped layer 700 by irradiation high-energy light can also increase by the second doped layer 700 crystallinity, effectively lifts photoelectric conversion rate.In certain embodiments, high-energy light source can be laser.
In certain embodiments, one second anti-reflecting layer 800 can further be formed in the second doped layer 700 Upper (as shown in Figure 7).The material of second anti-reflecting layer 800 can be nitride (such as silicon nitride), oxide (example Such as silica) or other materials multilayer film (such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide) stack form.In some embodiments In, the formation of the second anti-reflecting layer 800 can pass through wet oxidation (Wet Oxidation), dry oxidation (Dry Oxidation), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) or physics gas It is mutually made the methods of deposition (PVD).
In certain embodiments, a conductive metal layer 900 can be further coated with the first anti-reflecting layer 400 And second on doped layer 700 or the second anti-reflecting layer 800 (as shown in Figure 8).Conductive metal layer 900 can profit With chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma-assisted chemical deposition (PECVD) or physical vapour deposition (PVD) (PVD) Mode is formed.The material of conductive metal layer 900 can be copper, titanium, aluminium, gold, silver, tungsten, chromium, cobalt etc. or It is combined.
Although the present invention is disclosed above with embodiment, so it is not limited to the present invention, any to be familiar with This those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, when that can be used for a variety of modifications and variations, therefore Protection scope of the present invention is worked as to be defined depending on appended claims limited range.

Claims (10)

  1. A kind of 1. method for manufacturing solar cell, it is characterised in that include:
    Semiconductor substrate is provided, the semiconductor substrate has one first face and one second face relative to each other;
    One first doped layer is formed on first face of the semiconductor substrate;
    An electrode is formed on the first doped layer;
    A film layer is deposited on second face of the semiconductor substrate;
    One second doped layer is formed on the film layer, second doped layer includes a dopant;And
    Second doped layer is irradiated using a high-energy light source, makes the dopant of second doped layer extremely A few part diffuses to the film layer and second face of the semiconductor substrate, to form a heavily doped region.
  2. 2. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that utilizing should High-energy source light source, which irradiates second doped layer and included, makes second doped layer produce crystallization.
  3. 3. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that the film Layer is formed by chemical vapor deposition or physical vapour deposition (PVD).
  4. 4. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that the high energy Amount light source is laser.
  5. 5. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that the film Layer is silicon nitride or silica.
  6. 6. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that the film The thickness of layer is less than 2 nanometers.
  7. 7. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that the doping Material includes carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, halogen or its combination.
  8. 8. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that further Comprising:
    One first anti-reflecting layer is formed on first doped layer;And
    A conductive metal layer is coated with first anti-reflecting layer and second doped layer.
  9. 9. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 8, it is characterised in that the conduction Metal level is copper, aluminium, titanium, silver or gold.
  10. 10. the method for manufacture solar cell according to claim 1, it is characterised in that further Comprising one second anti-reflecting layer of formation on second doped layer.
CN201610326328.1A 2016-05-17 2016-05-17 The method for manufacturing solar cell Pending CN107394003A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201610326328.1A CN107394003A (en) 2016-05-17 2016-05-17 The method for manufacturing solar cell

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201610326328.1A CN107394003A (en) 2016-05-17 2016-05-17 The method for manufacturing solar cell

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN107394003A true CN107394003A (en) 2017-11-24

Family

ID=60338585

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN201610326328.1A Pending CN107394003A (en) 2016-05-17 2016-05-17 The method for manufacturing solar cell

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN107394003A (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040200520A1 (en) * 2003-04-10 2004-10-14 Sunpower Corporation Metal contact structure for solar cell and method of manufacture
CN101931029A (en) * 2009-06-18 2010-12-29 Lg电子株式会社 The method of solar cell and manufacturing solar cell

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040200520A1 (en) * 2003-04-10 2004-10-14 Sunpower Corporation Metal contact structure for solar cell and method of manufacture
CN101931029A (en) * 2009-06-18 2010-12-29 Lg电子株式会社 The method of solar cell and manufacturing solar cell

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11605750B2 (en) Solar cell having an emitter region with wide bandgap semiconductor material
US9716204B2 (en) Method for producing a photovoltaic solar cell having at least one heterojunction passivated by means of hydrogen diffusion
JP2022501837A (en) Crystalline silicon solar cell and its manufacturing method
US11264529B1 (en) Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
EP2811539B1 (en) Solar cell with multilayered structure and manufacturing method thereof
US20150270421A1 (en) Advanced Back Contact Solar Cells
TWI685117B (en) Passivation of light-receiving surfaces of solar cells with crystalline silicon and a method of facricating the solar cells
KR101768907B1 (en) Method of fabricating Solar Cell
CN111755552A (en) Solar cell and manufacturing method thereof
KR20160090287A (en) Nanostructured silicon based solar cells and methods to produce nanostructured silicon based solar cells
US20130089943A1 (en) Method of manufacturing a solar cell
US11101398B2 (en) Blister-free polycrystalline silicon for solar cells
CN111133589B (en) Dopant enhanced solar cell and method of manufacturing the same
CN106784074A (en) N-type double-side cell structure
KR20160013751A (en) Solar cell and the manufacturing mathod thereof
JP6681878B2 (en) Photoelectric conversion element and method for manufacturing photoelectric conversion element
CN112133769A (en) Solar cell and method for manufacturing same
CN107394003A (en) The method for manufacturing solar cell
CN113314622A (en) Solar cell and preparation method thereof
TW201742260A (en) Method of fabricating solar cell
CN216054727U (en) Solar cell
WO2022134990A1 (en) Solar cell and production method, and photovoltaic module
EP4333080A1 (en) Contact structure applied to tunneling type solar cell, solar cell having contact structure and manufacturing method therefor
CN101312222A (en) Method of manufacturing solar cell
TWI645572B (en) A method for fabricating crystalline silicon wafer based solar cells with local back fields

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
WD01 Invention patent application deemed withdrawn after publication
WD01 Invention patent application deemed withdrawn after publication

Application publication date: 20171124