Solar cell module and vehicle

Abstract

To provide a solar cell module capable of having larger power generation effective area while suppressing increase in electric resistance, and a vehicle mounted with the same.SOLUTION: A solar cell module 1 is a perovskite type solar cell where a light reception part 1A and a light shield part 1B have a substrate 11, a first electrode layer 12, a functional layer 13, and a second electrode layer 14 in this order respectively. The first electrode layer 12 and second electrode layer 14 are electrically connected. When viewed from an incidence direction of light, the connection width w1 between the first electrode layer 12 and second electrode layer 14 at the light reception part 1A is smaller than the connection width w2 between the first electrode layer 12 and second electrode layer 14 at the light shield part 1B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar cell module and a vehicle equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in this technical field, an integrated solar cell module has been known in which a first electrode layer, a functional layer, and a second electrode layer are stacked in this order on a substrate, as described in Patent Document 1. The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are electrically connected in the stacking direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-308362 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an integrated solar cell module, from the viewpoint of increasing the effective power generation area, it is preferable to reduce the connection width between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of suppressing an increase in the electrical resistance of the solar cell module, it is preferable to increase the connection width between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. Due to this contradictory relationship, the above-mentioned integrated solar cell module has a problem in that it is not possible to increase the effective power generation area while suppressing an increase in electrical resistance.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve these technical problems, and aims to provide a solar cell module and a vehicle equipped with the same that can increase the effective power generation area while suppressing an increase in electrical resistance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The solar cell module of the present invention is a solar cell module in which the light receiving portion and the light shielding portion each have a substrate, a first electrode layer, a functional layer, and a second electrode layer in this order, and the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are electrically connected, and when viewed from the direction of light incidence, the connection width between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in the light receiving portion is smaller than the connection width between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in the light shielding portion.

[0007] In the solar cell module according to the present invention, the connection width between the first and second electrode layers in the light-receiving portion is smaller than the connection width between the first and second electrode layers in the light-shielding portion. Because the light-receiving portion contributes to power generation, reducing the connection width between the first and second electrode layers in the light-receiving portion increases the effective power generation area in the light-receiving portion. This increases the amount of power generated by the solar cell module. On the other hand, because the light-shielding portion does not contribute to power generation, increasing the connection width between the first and second electrode layers in the light-shielding portion does not affect the amount of power generated by the solar cell module. Therefore, by reducing the connection width between the first and second electrode layers in the light-receiving portion while increasing the connection width between the first and second electrode layers in the light-shielding portion and taking a weighted average of the two, an increase in electrical resistance can be suppressed. By reducing the connection width between the first and second electrode layers of the light-receiving section that contributes to power generation and increasing the connection width between the first and second electrode layers of the light-shielding section that does not contribute to power generation, it is possible to increase the effective power generation area while suppressing an increase in electrical resistance, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the solar cell module.

[0008] In the solar cell module according to the present invention, it is preferable that the shading portion is an edge portion of the solar cell module. In this way, the edge portion of the solar cell module can be used as the shading portion, so that modification work to the solar cell module by installing a shading portion is not necessary.

[0009] A vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that it is equipped with the solar cell module described above.

[0010] The vehicle according to the present invention is equipped with a solar cell module having the above-described structure, which can increase the effective power generation area while suppressing an increase in electrical resistance, thereby providing the vehicle with highly efficient renewable energy.

[0011] In the vehicle according to the present invention, it is preferable that the solar cell module is attached to the vehicle by the shading part being gripped by the vehicle body. In this way, by utilizing the shading part as a part for attaching the solar cell module to the vehicle, it is possible to prevent the attachment to the vehicle from affecting the light receiving part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the effective power generation area while suppressing an increase in electrical resistance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a solar cell module according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1. (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 1, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are plan and cross-sectional views for explaining the manufacturing of a solar cell module. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a conventional solar cell module. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle equipped with a solar cell module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A solar cell module and a vehicle equipped with the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0015] [Solar cell module] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a solar cell module according to an embodiment, FIG. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. In the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment, the direction in which the cells 10 are arranged side by side is referred to as the "cell arrangement direction," the direction in which the substrate 11, the first electrode layer 12, the functional layer 13, and the second electrode layer 14 are stacked is referred to as the "stacking direction," and the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the stacking direction is referred to as the "longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 1." However, these directions are merely for the sake of convenience and do not limit the posture, arrangement, etc. of the solar cell module 1. Furthermore, the width of the dividing groove 15 (described later) and the connection width between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 both refer to the width when viewed from the direction of light incidence, in other words, the distance in the cell arrangement direction.

[0016] 1 and 2, the solar cell module 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a thin-plate perovskite solar cell, and includes a substrate 11, a first electrode layer 12, a functional layer 13, and a second electrode layer 14. The first electrode layer 12, the functional layer 13, and the second electrode layer 14 are stacked in this order on the substrate 11.

[0017] The substrate 11 is, for example, an insulating substrate, and may be transparent or opaque, but in this embodiment, a transparent substrate is used because light is incident from the surface of the substrate 11 (see FIG. 2). Examples of transparent substrates include materials such as glass, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, and cycloolefin polymer.

[0018] The first electrode layer 12 is, for example, a transparent electrode layer, and is laminated on the upper surface of the substrate 11. Examples of materials for this first electrode layer 12 include ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), FTO (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide), ZnO (Zinc Oxide), AZO (Aluminum-doped Zinc Oxide), GZO (Gallium-doped Zinc Oxide), and IGZO (Indium-Gallium-doped Zinc Oxide).

[0019] The functional layer 13 is formed of, for example, a hole transport layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and an electron transport layer. In the functional layer 13, the hole transport layer, the photoelectric conversion layer, and the electron transport layer are stacked in this order on the first electrode layer 12.

[0020] The hole transport layer can be made of known organic or inorganic materials that can be used for hole transport layers. Examples of organic materials include 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-di-4-methoxyphenylamino)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD), polyethylenedioxythiophene:polystyrenesulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS), and poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA). Examples of inorganic materials include nickel oxide and copper oxide.

[0021] The photoelectric conversion layer is a power generation layer having a perovskite crystal structure, and absorbs light to generate charge carriers.

[0022] The electron transport layer may be made of any known organic or inorganic material that can be used for an electron transport layer. Examples of organic materials include fullerene compounds, phenanthroline derivatives, and polyethyleneimines. Examples of inorganic materials include titanium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide.

[0023] The second electrode layer 14 is, for example, a back electrode, and is made of Au, Ag, Al, or the like.

[0024] The solar cell module 1 of this embodiment is configured to include a light-receiving portion 1A and a light-shielding portion 1B. The light-receiving portion 1A and the light-shielding portion 1B are each formed to include the above-mentioned substrate 11, first electrode layer 12, functional layer 13, and second electrode layer 14.

[0025] The shading portion 1B is a portion that does not receive sunlight, i.e., a portion that does not contribute to power generation by the solar cell module 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the shading portion 1B is an edge portion of the solar cell module 1, and is preferably, for example, a peripheral portion extending in the longitudinal direction and the cell arrangement direction of the solar cell module 1. This shading portion 1B is an attachment margin for attaching a frame (not shown) that surrounds and holds the light-receiving portion 1A. The frame or frame may be made of metal or a hard, opaque resin.

[0026] On the other hand, the light receiving portion 1A is a portion that receives sunlight and generates electricity, that is, a portion that contributes to the power generation of the solar cell module 1. This light receiving portion 1A is surrounded by a light blocking portion 1B.

[0027] The solar cell module 1 configured in this manner is equally divided into a plurality of cells 10 by a plurality of dividing grooves 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of cells 10 are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 1 (i.e., the cell arrangement direction). The dividing grooves 15 extend from one end to the other end of the solar cell module 1 along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 1. The dividing grooves 15 are formed to have a narrow portion 151 located in the light-receiving portion 1A and a wide portion 152 located in the light-shielding portion 1B. That is, the dividing grooves 15 of this embodiment have different widths in the light-receiving portion 1A and the light-shielding portion 1B.

[0028] Specifically, the narrow width portion 151 has a constant width and extends along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 1 in the light receiving section 1A. There are a pair of wide width portions 152, each connected to both ends of the narrow width portion 151. Each wide width portion 152 has a width greater than that of the narrow width portion 151. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3(b), each wide width portion 152 does not expand equally on both the left and right sides of the narrow width portion 151, but expands in only one direction (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 3(b)).

[0029] 2(a) and 2(b), the second electrode layer 14 has a stepped structure formed so as to extend from the upper surface of the functional layer 13, over the side surface of the functional layer 13, and further into the dividing groove 15. The second electrode layer 14 that extends into the dividing groove 15 comes into contact with the upper surface of the first electrode layer 12 of an adjacent cell that is exposed from the dividing groove 15, and is electrically connected to the first electrode layer 12. In this way, between adjacent cells 10, the second electrode layer 14 of one cell 10 is electrically connected to the first electrode layer 12 of the other cell 10 in the stacking direction, forming a series connection between the cells.

[0030] 2(a) and 2(b), when viewed from the direction of light incidence, the connection width w1 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-receiving section 1A is smaller than the connection width w2 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-shielding section 1B. That is, the second electrode layer 14 that extends into the dividing groove 15 is electrically connected to the first electrode layer 12 of an adjacent cell that is exposed from the dividing groove 15, but the width of the connection portion is different between the narrow portion 151 and the wide portion 152. The connection portion here refers to the overlapping portion between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 when viewed from the direction of light incidence (i.e., the stacking direction).

[0031] In the solar cell module 1 of this embodiment, the connection width w1 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-receiving portion 1A is smaller than the connection width w2 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-shielding portion 1B. Because the light-receiving portion 1A is the portion that contributes to power generation, reducing the connection width w1 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-receiving portion 1A can increase the effective power generation area in the light-receiving portion 1A. This makes it possible to increase the amount of power generated by the solar cell module 1.

[0032] On the other hand, because the shading portion 1B is a portion that does not contribute to power generation, increasing the connection width w2 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the shading portion 1B does not affect the amount of power generated by the solar cell module 1. Therefore, for example, by reducing the connection width w1 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-receiving portion 1A while increasing the connection width w2 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the shading portion 1B, and taking a weighted average of both, it is possible to suppress an increase in electrical resistance.

[0033] More specifically, by changing the connection width between first electrode layer 12 and second electrode layer 14 in light-receiving section 1A and light-shielding section 1B, the electrical resistance of the connection portion between first electrode layer 12 and second electrode layer 14 in light-receiving section 1A and light-shielding section 1B changes, but by taking the weighted average of both resistance values, it is possible to maintain the electrical resistance at the same level as that of a conventional solar cell module. Therefore, for example, the above-mentioned connection width w1 and connection width w2 can be designed so that the weighted average of the electrical resistance of the connection portion between first electrode layer 12 and second electrode layer 14 in light-receiving section 1A and the electrical resistance of the connection portion between first electrode layer 12 and second electrode layer 14 in light-shielding section 1B is the same as the electrical resistance of the connection portion with a conventional solar cell module.

[0034] Here, the effects of the solar cell module 1 of this embodiment will be further described in comparison with the conventional solar cell module 2 shown in FIG.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4 , the conventional solar cell module 2, like the solar cell module 1 of this embodiment, includes a substrate 11 and a first electrode layer 12, a functional layer 13, and a second electrode layer 14 stacked in this order on the substrate 11. The conventional solar cell module 2 is equally divided into a plurality of cells 20 by a plurality of dividing grooves 16. The dividing grooves 16 extend along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 2, but unlike the dividing grooves 15 of this embodiment, they are linearly formed from one end of the solar cell module 2 to the other. That is, in the conventional solar cell module 2, the dividing grooves 16 do not have different widths in the light-receiving portion 2A and the light-shielding portion 2B, but have the same width throughout. Therefore, the connection width between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-receiving portion 2A and the connection width between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-shielding portion 2B are the same, both being w3.

[0036] In the solar cell module 1 of this embodiment, by making the connection width w2 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the shading portion 1B larger than the connection width w3 in the conventional solar cell module 2, it is possible to reduce the electrical resistance of the shading portion 1B compared to the conventional solar cell module 2. As described above, the electrical resistance of the solar cell module is determined by the weighted average of the resistance values ​​in both the light-receiving portion 1A and the shading portion 1B, so reducing the electrical resistance of the shading portion 1B provides a margin for increasing the electrical resistance of the light-receiving portion 1A. By using this margin to increase the electrical resistance of the light-receiving portion 1A, it is possible to obtain a connection width w1 that is smaller than the connection width w3 in the conventional solar cell module 2, thereby increasing the effective power generation area compared to the conventional solar cell module 2.

[0037] By designing the connection width between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 of the light-receiving portion 1A, which contributes to power generation, to be small, and the connection width between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 of the light-shielding portion 1B, which does not contribute to power generation, to be large, the electrical resistance of the entire solar cell module 1 can be maintained at the same level as the electrical resistance of the conventional solar cell module 2. As a result, the effective power generation area can be increased while suppressing an increase in electrical resistance. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the solar cell module 1 can be improved.

[0038] Furthermore, in the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment, the shading portion 1B is an edge portion of the solar cell module 2. By effectively using the edge portion of the solar cell module 1 as the shading portion 1B in this way, there is no need to modify the solar cell module 1 by installing the shading portion 1B.

[0039] Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing the solar cell module 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0040] First, a substrate 11 is prepared. Next, a first electrode layer 12 is formed on the entire upper surface of the substrate 11. A well-known technique is used as the film formation method. Next, a first scribe is performed on the formed first electrode layer 12 so as to electrically separate each cell.

[0041] Scribing refers to removing a specific material, and examples include mechanical scribing, which involves scratching with a metal blade, and laser scribing, which involves laser ablation. In this embodiment, mechanical scribing is used. The scribe pattern is usually linear in order to improve reproducibility and processing speed. If patterning application using an inkjet printer is possible, it is also possible to achieve a pattern that looks like scribing without the scribing process.

[0042] In the first scribing, dividing grooves 121 of a predetermined width (for example, 100 μm) are formed in predetermined positions of the first electrode layer 12 so as to divide the first electrode layer 12 into a plurality of cells of the same size. By this first scribing, a portion of the first electrode layer 12 is removed, and the first electrode layer 12 is divided into a plurality of cells. Furthermore, by forming the dividing grooves 121, a portion of the substrate 11 is exposed to the outside (see FIG. 3(a)).

[0043] Next, a functional layer 13 is formed on the first electrode layer 12 and the exposed substrate 11 so as to cover them. As a result, not only the first electrode layer 12 but also the substrate 11 exposed from the dividing grooves 121 are covered with the functional layer 13. Next, a second scribing is performed on the functional layer 13 so as to expose a portion of the first electrode layer 12 to the outside. In the second scribing, dividing grooves 15 of a predetermined width are formed at predetermined positions in the functional layer 13 so as to divide the functional layer 13 into a plurality of cells of the same size.

[0044] As described above, the dividing groove 15 has a narrow portion 151 located in the light-receiving portion 1A and a wide portion 152 located in the light-shielding portion 1B. Therefore, in the second scribing, the narrow portion 151 having a predetermined width t1 (e.g., 300 μm) is formed in the region of the light-receiving portion 1A, and the wide portion 152 having a predetermined width t2 (e.g., 500 μm) is formed in the region of the light-shielding portion 1B (see FIG. 3(b)). Then, by forming the dividing groove 15, a part of the first electrode layer 12 is exposed to the outside.

[0045] Next, a second electrode layer 14 is formed on the functional layer 13 and the exposed first electrode layer 12 so as to cover them. As a result, not only the functional layer 13 but also the first electrode layer 12 exposed from the dividing grooves 15 are covered with the second electrode layer 14. Subsequently, a third scribing is performed on the second electrode layer 14 so as to expose a portion of the first electrode layer 12 covered with the second electrode layer 14 to the outside.

[0046] In the third scribing, dividing grooves 141 of a predetermined width (for example, about 100 μm) are formed at predetermined positions in the second electrode layer 14 formed within the dividing groove 15 so as to divide the second electrode layer 14 into a plurality of cells 10 of the same size. At this time, the dividing grooves 141 in the shape of broken lines are formed over the entire narrow width portion 151 and the wide width portion 152 so that the connection width w1 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-receiving portion 1A is smaller than the connection width w2 between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 14 in the light-shielding portion 1B (see FIG. 3(c)).

[0047] Specifically, for example, on the premise that the right end of the division groove 141 to be formed coincides with the right end of the division groove 15, the third scribing is performed so that a straight portion of the division groove 141 is formed in the narrow portion 151 and a bent portion of the division groove 141 is formed in the wide portion 152. As shown in FIG. 3(c), the straight portion of the formed division groove 141 extends along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 1. The bent portion of the division groove 141 has an L-shaped cross section and is connected to the straight portion at a right angle.

[0048] The third scribing removes a portion of the second electrode layer 14 formed in the dividing groove 15, exposing a portion of the first electrode layer 12 to the outside. Furthermore, a portion of the second electrode layer 14 formed in the dividing groove 15 remains. As a result, in each cell 10, the second electrode layer 14 has a stepped structure that extends from the top surface of the functional layer 13, over the side surface of the functional layer 13, and to a portion of the top surface of the first electrode layer 12 of an adjacent cell. As a result, between adjacent cells, the second electrode layer 14 of one cell 10 comes into contact with and is electrically connected to the first electrode layer 12 of the other cell 10, thereby forming a series connection between the cells. In other words, a conduction path between the cells is formed.

[0049] In this manufacturing method, the first scribe serves to electrically separate the first electrode layer 12, the second scribe serves to connect the cells in series, and the third scribe serves to electrically separate the second electrode layer .

[0050] Through the above steps, the solar cell module 1 is manufactured.

[0051] [Vehicle equipped with solar cell modules] 5 is a perspective view showing a vehicle equipped with a solar cell module. The vehicle 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a plurality of the above-described solar cell modules 1. Each solar cell module 1 is thin, flexible, and lightweight, and therefore can be easily attached to the vehicle body by suitably following the shape of the vehicle body.

[0052] 5, the solar cell modules 1 are attached to, for example, a hood 101, a roof 102, a rear window 103, and a trunk lid 104. Although not shown, it is preferable that each solar cell module 1 is attached to the hood 101, the roof 102, the rear window 103, and the trunk lid 104 by gripping the respective shading portions 1B to the vehicle body. In this way, the shading portions 1B can be used as portions for attaching the solar cell module 1 to the vehicle 100, and it is possible to prevent the light receiving portion 1A from being affected by the attachment to the vehicle 100.

[0053] The vehicle 100 according to this embodiment is equipped with the solar cell module 1 described above, which makes it possible to increase the effective power generation area while suppressing an increase in electrical resistance, thereby enabling the vehicle 100 to be supplied with renewable energy with high efficiency.

[0054] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1: solar cell module, 1A: light receiving portion, 1B: light shielding portion, 10: cell, 11: substrate, 12: first electrode layer, 13: functional layer, 14: second electrode layer, 15, 121, 141: dividing groove, 100: vehicle, 151: narrow portion, 152: wide portion

Claims

1. A solar cell module in which the light receiving section and the light blocking section each have a substrate, a first electrode layer, a functional layer, and a second electrode layer in this order, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are electrically connected to each other; A solar cell module characterized in that, when viewed from the direction of light incidence, the connection width between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in the light-receiving portion is smaller than the connection width between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in the light-shielding portion.

2. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the light-shielding portion is an edge portion of the solar cell module.

3. A vehicle equipped with the solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the solar cell module is attached to the vehicle by the light-shielding portion being gripped by the vehicle body.

Images