Silicon thin-film, integrated solar cell,module, and methods of manufacturing the same
First Claim
1. A solar cell comprising:
- (a) an electrically insulating substrate;
(b) a first ohmic contact layer formed on or in said substrate, said first ohmic contact layer comprising a highly electronically conductive material having a first conductivity type;
(c) a first layer of doped semiconductor material formed on said first ohmic contact layer and having a first conductivity type the same as that of said first ohmic contact layer;
(d) a second layer of doped semiconductor material formed on said first layer of doped semiconductor material and having a conductivity type opposite to that of said first layer of doped semiconductor material, said first and second layers of doped semiconductor material forming a p-n junction; and
(e) a second ohmic contact layer formed on said second layer of doped semiconductor material in physical isolation from said first ohmic contact layer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A polycrystalline film of silicon including silicon grains having an aspect ratio, d/t, of more than 1:1, wherein “d” is the grain diameter and “t” is the grain thickness. The polycrystalline film of silicon can be used to form an electronic device, such as a monolithically integrated solar cell having ohmic contacts formed on opposed surfaces or on the same surface of the film. A plurality of solar cells can be monolithically integrated to provide a solar cell module that includes an electrically insulating substrate and at least two solar cells disposed on the substrate in physical isolation from one another. Methods for manufacturing the film, solar cell and solar cell module are also disclosed. The simplified structure and method allow for substantial cost reduction on a mass-production scale, at least in part due to the high aspect ratio silicon grains in the film.
29 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A solar cell comprising:
-
(a) an electrically insulating substrate;
(b) a first ohmic contact layer formed on or in said substrate, said first ohmic contact layer comprising a highly electronically conductive material having a first conductivity type;
(c) a first layer of doped semiconductor material formed on said first ohmic contact layer and having a first conductivity type the same as that of said first ohmic contact layer;
(d) a second layer of doped semiconductor material formed on said first layer of doped semiconductor material and having a conductivity type opposite to that of said first layer of doped semiconductor material, said first and second layers of doped semiconductor material forming a p-n junction; and
(e) a second ohmic contact layer formed on said second layer of doped semiconductor material in physical isolation from said first ohmic contact layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A solar cell module, comprising:
-
(a) an electrically insulating substrate;
(b) at least two solar cells disposed on said substrate in physical isolation from one another, each solar cell comprising;
(i) a first ohmic contact layer formed on or in said substrate, (ii) a first layer of doped semiconductor material formed on said first ohmic contact layer and having a first conductivity type, (iii) a second layer of doped semiconductor material formed on said first layer of doped semiconductor material and having a conductivity type opposite to that of said first layer of doped semiconductor material, said first and second layers of doped semiconductor material forming a p-n junction; and
(iv) a second ohmic contact layer formed on said second layer of doped semiconductor material in physical isolation from said first ohmic contact layer; and
(c) an electronically conductive interconnect providing electrical communication between said second ohmic contact layer of one solar cell and said first ohmic contact layer of the other solar cell while maintaining the two solar cells in physical isolation from one another. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A solar cell, comprising:
-
(a) an electrically insulating substrate;
(b) a first ohmic contact formed on or in said substrate;
(c) a second ohmic contact formed on or in said substrate in spaced juxtaposition with said first ohmic contact; and
(d) a layer of doped semiconductor material disposed on said first and second ohmic contacts, said layer including one of (i) an upper p-region and a lower n-region adjacent said first ohmic contact, and (ii) an upper n-region and a lower p-region adjacent said second ohmic contact, wherein a p-n junction is formed between the upper and lower regions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A solar cell module, comprising:
-
(a) an electrically insulating substrate; and
(b) at least two solar cells disposed on said substrate, each solar cell comprising;
(i) a first ohmic contact formed on or in said substrate, (ii) a second ohmic contact formed on or in said substrate in spaced juxtaposition with said first ohmic contact, and (iii) a layer of doped semiconductor material disposed on said first and second ohmic contacts, said layer including one of (1) an upper p-region and a lower n-region adjacent said first ohmic contact, and (2) an upper n-region and a lower p-region adjacent said second ohmic contact, wherein a p-n junction is formed between said upper and lower regions;
wherein the solar cells are connected physically and electrically only at laterally terminal end portions of said first ohmic contact of one solar cell and said second ohmic contact of the other solar cell.
-
-
24. A solar cell module, comprising:
-
(a) an electrically insulating substrate; and
(b) at least two solar cells disposed on said substrate, each solar cell comprising;
(i) a comb-shaped n+ contact formed on or in said substrate, (ii) a comb-shaped p+ contact formed on or in said substrate interdigitated with said n+ contact, (iii) a barrier layer formed on said n+ and p+ contacts, (iv) a layer of doped semiconductor material disposed on said barrier layer, said layer including one of (1) an upper p-region and a lower n-region adjacent said n+ contact, and (2) an upper n-region and a lower p-region adjacent said p+ contact, wherein a p-n junction is formed between said upper and lower regions;
wherein the solar cells are connected physically and electrically only at laterally terminal end portions of the p+ contact of one solar cell and the n+ contact of the other solar cell.
-
Specification