Transparent electrode film, and photoelectric element film and photoelectric cell having same

Abstract

A transparent electrode film comprising: a substrate layer; and a transparent electrode layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate layer and having a plurality of through-holes formed in edge regions on both sides in the width direction, spaced apart along the longitudinal direction.

Description

Transparent electrode film and photoelectric element film and photoelectric cell having the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a photoelectric device. Specifically, the present invention relates to a transparent electrode film that is easily deformable for output control, and a photoelectric device film and photoelectric cell having the same.

[0002] A photovoltaic device, such as a solar cell, is a photoelectric conversion device that converts solar energy into electrical energy, and usually has a form in which a photovoltaic device is combined with a film-shaped substrate layer.

[0003] Figures 1a and 1b are a perspective view and a plan view of a transparent electrode film according to the prior art, and Figures 1c and 1d are a perspective view and an output conceptual diagram of a photoelectric element film using a transparent electrode film according to the prior art.

[0004] As shown in Figures 1a and 1b, a conventional transparent electrode film includes a substrate layer (10) and a transparent electrode layer (20).

[0005] The substrate layer (10) is composed of a flexible polymer film such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that is flexible and shape-deformable.

[0006] The transparent electrode layer (20) functions as the lower electrode of the photoelectric element (30) coupled to the upper portion, and is usually composed of a metal oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), AgO, etc.

[0007] As illustrated in FIGS. 2c and 2d, photoelectric elements (30) are coupled to the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer (20) to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The photoelectric elements (30) are arranged in a line shape along the length direction while being spaced apart in the width direction, and they form a series connection shape as illustrated in FIG. 1d.

[0008] Meanwhile, in order to control the output of the photoelectric element (30) coupled to the transparent electrode film, a bus bar connecting the photoelectric elements (30) in parallel is required. However, in a conventional photoelectric element film having a transparent electrode film, output control is possible only by changing (or reconnecting) the connection form of the photoelectric element (30). This change in the connection form of the photoelectric element (30) is difficult to apply in a roll-to-roll continuous process method that is widely used due to its high production efficiency.

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to easily control output without performing additional processes such as changing the connection form of a photoelectric element in a photoelectric element film that combines a photoelectric element to a transparent electrode film.

[0010] To achieve this purpose, the transparent electrode film of the present invention includes a substrate layer and a transparent electrode layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate layer and having a plurality of through holes formed spaced apart along the length direction in the widthwise edge regions.

[0011] In the transparent electrode film of the present invention, the through holes of the transparent electrode layer can be arranged facing each other in the width direction.

[0012] In the transparent electrode film of the present invention, the transparent electrode layer may include a through line connecting two through holes facing each other in the width direction.

[0013] In the transparent electrode film of the present invention, the through lines may include a plurality of through lines along the longitudinal direction.

[0014] In the transparent electrode film of the present invention, the through hole may have a rectangular cross-section.

[0015] The photoelectric element film according to the present invention may include a photoelectric element formed on the upper surface of the transparent electrode film and the transparent electrode layer of the transparent electrode film.

[0016] The photoelectric cell according to the present invention may include the photoelectric element film described above, and a photoelectric element encapsulation film that embeds the photoelectric element of the photoelectric element film and is bonded to the upper surface of the photoelectric element film.

[0017] In the photoelectric cell of the present invention, the photoelectric element encapsulation film may include a conductive adhesive layer, a conductive film, a heat-compression film, an upper barrier film, etc.

[0018] The conductive adhesive layer can be spaced apart and bonded to the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer while embedding the photoelectric element.

[0019] The conductive film can be bonded to the upper surface of the conductive adhesive layer while embedding a photoelectric element.

[0020] The thermocompression film can be bonded to the gap between the conductive adhesive layer and the laminate of the conductive film while thermocompression-embedding the photoelectric element.

[0021] The upper barrier film can be bonded to at least the upper surface of the thermocompression film.

[0022] In the photoelectric cell of the present invention, the conductive film can function as a bus bar.

[0023] In the photovoltaic cell of the present invention, the photovoltaic element may be an inverted structure organic solar cell including an electron transport layer bonded to an upper surface of a transparent electrode layer, a photoactive layer bonded to an upper surface of the electron transport layer, a hole transport layer bonded to an upper surface of the photoactive layer, and an upper electrode bonded to an upper surface of the hole transport layer.

[0024] In the photoelectric cell of the present invention, a plurality of photoelectric elements can be connected in series along the width direction.

[0025] The present invention having such a configuration forms a plurality of through holes in the longitudinal direction at intervals on both width-wise edge regions of a transparent electrode layer formed on the upper surface of a substrate layer, and when output control is required, a line is removed between opposing through holes to form a through line, thereby allowing the output to be divided in the longitudinal direction with the through line as the boundary. As a result, the output of the photoelectric cell can be easily controlled in a roll-to-roll production process widely used in mass production without performing additional processes such as changing the connection form of the photoelectric element in a photoelectric element film that combines the photoelectric element to the transparent electrode film.

[0026] Figures 1a and 1b are a perspective view and a plan view of a transparent electrode film according to the prior art.

[0027] Figures 1c and 1d are a perspective view and an output conceptual diagram of a photoelectric element film using a transparent electrode film according to the prior art.

[0028] Figures 2a and 2b are a perspective view and a plan view of a transparent electrode film according to the present invention.

[0029] Figures 2c and 2d are a perspective view and an output conceptual diagram of a photoelectric element film using a transparent electrode film according to the present invention.

[0030] Figures 3a and 3b are a perspective view and a plan view showing an example of applying a transparent electrode film according to the present invention to output division.

[0031] Figures 3c and 3d are a perspective view and an output conceptual diagram showing an example of applying a photoelectric element film using a transparent electrode film according to the present invention to output division.

[0032] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a photoelectric cell according to the present invention.

[0033] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0034] Figures 2a and 2b are a perspective view and a plan view of a transparent electrode film according to the present invention, and Figures 2c and 2d are a perspective view and an output conceptual diagram of a photoelectric element film using a transparent electrode film according to the present invention.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the transparent electrode film of the present invention may include a substrate layer (10), a transparent electrode layer (20), etc.

[0036] The substrate layer (10) supports the transparent electrode layer (20) bonded to the upper portion, and may be composed of a flexible material that is flexible and can be deformed into a shape. Examples of the flexible material include polymer films such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyimide (PI), polyethylene sulfonate (PES), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether sulfone (PES), polyether imide (PEI), AS resin (acrylonitrile styrene copolymer), ABS resin (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), TAC (Triacetyl cellulose), and PAR (polyarylate). Among these, it may be preferable to use PET, which has high chemical stability, mechanical strength, and transparency while being easy to deform into various shapes.

[0037] The transparent electrode layer (20) functions as a lower electrode of the photoelectric element (30) and can be formed on the upper surface of the substrate layer (10).

[0038] The transparent electrode layer (20) can be composed of a light-transmitting material, such as a metal oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), FTO (Fluorinated Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), AZO (Aluminum doped Zinc Oxide), ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide), or AgO, so that light passing through the substrate layer (10) can sufficiently reach the photoactive layer (32). The transparent electrode layer (20) can also be composed of a transparent conductor such as a silver (Ag) nanowire or a silver (Ag) mesh.

[0039] In the case of an inverted structure organic solar cell, the transparent electrode layer (20) can function as a cathode (-) that receives electrons generated in the photoactive layer (32) and transmits them to an external circuit.

[0040] The transparent electrode layer (20) may have a number of through holes (SH) formed along the longitudinal direction at both width-direction edge areas. The through holes (SH) may be spaced at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction.

[0041] The transparent electrode layer (20) can be configured in a form that connects the outer end of the through hole (SH).

[0042] The transparent electrode layer (20) can be configured to have a plurality of through holes (SH) arranged oppositely in the width direction to form pairs along the length direction.

[0043] The through hole (SH) can be configured in various cross-sectional shapes such as circular, oval, triangular, and square. However, it may be preferable to configure the through hole (SH) in a square shape in consideration of the ease of forming the through line (LH in Fig. 3a) connecting the widthwise opposite through holes (SH) and the consistency of the length of the through line.

[0044] The transparent electrode layer (20) can be formed using a transparent conductor such as ITO or AgO by a method such as sputtering.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 2c and 2d, the transparent electrode film of the present invention can form a photoelectric element film by combining a photoelectric element (30) on the upper side.

[0046] The photoelectric element (30) is an element that converts solar energy into electrical energy and can be formed on the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer (20).

[0047] In the case of an inverted structure organic solar cell, the photoelectric element (30) may include an electron transport layer (31) bonded to a transparent electrode layer (20), a photoactive layer (32) bonded to the electron transport layer (31), a hole transport layer (33) bonded to the photoactive layer (32), and an upper electrode (34) bonded to the hole transport layer (33).

[0048] The electron transport layer (31) can be composed of an inorganic oxide having a large work function. Specifically, zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), tin dioxide (SnO2), cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3), etc. can be used.

[0049] The electron transport layer (31) can be formed by coating ZnO or the like using spin coating or the like.

[0050] In the case of a low-molecular-weight photoactive layer (32), a donor and an acceptor can be stacked and used, and in the case of a high-molecular-weight photoactive layer (32), a donor and an acceptor can be dissolved in a solvent such as chlorobenzene or dichlorobenzene (1,2-di(ethenyl)benzene), mixed, and then formed into a single thin film.

[0051] The photoactive layer (32) can be composed of a high-efficiency ternary blend organic material, for example, PM6:Y6:PCBM60. Here, PM6 can function as a donor, and Y6 and PCBM60 can function as acceptors. The weight ratio of donor:acceptor can be mixed, for example, at 1:05 to 1:4.

[0052] The photoactive layer (32) can be formed by a method such as vacuum deposition or solution process. The solution process can use various methods such as spin coating, slot die coating, ink jet printing, and screen printing. For example, a photoactive layer material mixed with a donor polymer PTB7 and an acceptor polymer PC41BM in a weight ratio of 1:15 can be dissolved in a chlorobenzene solvent at a concentration of 15 wt%, and then the photoactive layer solution can be filtered through a 0.45 μm syringe filter and then spin coated on the electron transport layer (31). Thereafter, a 130 nm thick photoactive layer (32) can be formed by heat treatment at 120°C for 10 minutes.

[0053] The hole transport layer (33) can be composed of an organic material, an inorganic material, or an organic / inorganic composite material. Specifically, PEDOT:PSS (Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:poly(styrenesulfonate)), MoO3, WO3, V2O5, NiO, etc. can be used.

[0054] The hole transport layer (33) can be formed by a method such as vacuum deposition of MoO3.

[0055] The upper electrode (34) functions as an anode (+), collecting holes and transmitting them to an external circuit, and can be made of a conductive metal such as copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au), tungsten (W), nickel (Ni), or titanium (Ti).

[0056] The upper electrode (34) can be formed by forming a conductive metal by a method such as vacuum deposition, electron beam deposition, sputtering, ion plating, or chemical deposition, or by applying a paste for forming an electrode including a conductive metal and then performing a heat treatment.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 2c and 2d, when a plurality of photoelectric elements (30) are formed spaced apart in the width direction on the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer (20), each photoelectric element (30) can form a sub-photoelectric cell while forming a form in which it is connected in series along the width direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2d, a form in which the output voltages of each photoelectric element (30) are combined is formed while having the same structure as a form in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series.

[0058] Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views and plan views illustrating an example of applying a transparent electrode film according to the present invention to output division. Figures 3c and 3d are perspective views and output conceptual diagrams illustrating an example of applying a photoelectric element film using a transparent electrode film according to the present invention to output division.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the transparent electrode layer (20) may include a through line (LH).

[0060] A through line (LH) may be a pair (two) of through holes (SH) facing each other in the width direction among a number of through holes (SH) formed along the length direction in the width direction edge areas, connected in the width direction in the form of an empty space. In this case, the through line (LH) is connected only on the width direction inner side of the through hole (SH), and the width direction outer side of the through hole (SH) maintains its shape to maintain a connection (connection) state in the length direction.

[0061] A plurality of through lines (LH) can be formed along the longitudinal direction. The plurality of through lines (LH) can be formed at regular intervals or at different intervals.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 3c and 3d, when a plurality of photoelectric elements (30) using the transparent electrode layer (20) as a lower electrode are formed by spacing apart a plurality of through holes (SH) in the widthwise edge region and through lines (LH) connecting the through holes (SH) in the widthwise direction along the lengthwise direction on the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer (20), a plurality of photoelectric elements (30) can be divided along the lengthwise direction with the through lines (LH) as the boundaries. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3d, a structure identical to a structure in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series in the widthwise direction can be formed, while a structure identical to a structure in which a plurality of battery groups connected in series are connected in the lengthwise direction can be formed. That is, a sub-series connection group divided by the through lines (LH) forms a structure in which they are connected in parallel along the lengthwise direction. In this case, the output voltage of the sub-series connection group can be lowered than that of the series connection group before division, thereby lowering the overall output voltage, while increasing the output current, thereby achieving an output change.

[0063] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a photoelectric cell according to the present invention.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 4, the photoelectric element film of the present invention can form a sub-photoelectric cell in the form of sealing the photoelectric element (30) by bonding a photoelectric element sealing film (40) to the upper portion.

[0065] The photoelectric element encapsulation film (40) may include a conductive adhesive layer (41), a conductive film (42), a thermal compression film (43), an upper barrier film (44), etc., as shown in FIG. 4.

[0066] The conductive adhesive layer (41) simultaneously implements adhesive and conductive functions, and can be combined with the upper conductive film (42) and the lower transparent electrode layer (20) to conduct electricity between them.

[0067] The conductive adhesive layer (41) can be composed of a naturally curable conductive paste composition comprising conductive particles (filler), a binder containing a catechol-based compound and a laccase enzyme, and a solvent that disperses the conductive particles and is miscible with the binder. The conductive particles can be micro- or nano-sized conductive metal powders such as silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni).

[0068] The challenge adhesive layer (41) can have a thickness of 5 to 100 μm and an adhesive strength of 0.1 N / 25 mm or more.

[0069] The conductive film (42) is a conductor through which electricity flows and can function as a bus bar that connects a plurality of photoelectric elements (30) that are connected in series in parallel.

[0070] The conductive film (42) can be composed of a conductive metal, such as silver (Ag), a silver alloy, copper (Cu), a copper alloy, etc., and can also be composed of a conductive metal such as gold (Au), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tellurium (Te), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), alloys of these metals (e.g., silver-palladium-copper (APC)), nanowires of metals or alloys, etc.

[0071] The thermal compression film (43) is used to protect the photoelectric element (30) and can be inserted (bonded) into the gap between the laminate of the conductive adhesive layer (41) and the conductive film (42).

[0072] The heat-compression film (43) can use a hot melt adhesive. The hot melt adhesive can exhibit adhesive properties while flowing when a solid at room temperature is heated.

[0073] Hot melt adhesives may be based on an amorphous resin, such as an acrylic resin. The acrylic resin may be based on a resin formed by polymerizing a single acrylate monomer (acrylic homopolymer (homoacrylic polymer)).

[0074] The heat-compression film (42) can be fluidized and exhibit adhesive properties at 30 to 200°C, preferably at 40 to 180°C, and more preferably at 50 to 150°C.

[0075] The upper barrier film (44) protects the photoelectric element (30) from external moisture or oxygen (air), covers at least the thermal compression film (43), and can also be formed on the upper surface of the conductive film (42) as needed.

[0076] The upper barrier film (44) can use a hot melt type EVA film. EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) is a material jointly developed by NASA and DuPont as a material for solar cells used in satellites, and is currently used as a standard for solar cell encapsulation materials.

[0077] The upper barrier film (44) can be made of any material capable of blocking moisture and oxygen, including, but not limited to, TPU (Thermoplastic Poly Urethane), PVB (Polyvinyl butyral), Silicon / PU (Polyurethane), etc., in addition to EVA.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 4, when the photoelectric element sealing film (40) is bonded to the photoelectric element film by thermal compression, a plurality of photoelectric elements (30) constituting the sub-photoelectric cell can be compressed and embedded (inserted) inside the thermal compression film (43).

[0079] The present invention has been described in detail with several embodiments, which are intended to illustrate the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the potential for modifications and variations to these embodiments. However, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims below, and therefore, such modifications and variations are construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

[0080] [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10: Substrate layer

[0082] 20: Transparent electrode layer

[0083] 30: Photoelectric element

[0084] 31: Electron transport layer

[0085] 32: Photoactive layer

[0086] 33: Hole transport layer

[0087] 34: Upper electrode

[0088] 40: Photoelectric element encapsulation film

[0089] 41: Challenge adhesive layer

[0090] 42: Challenge Film

[0091] 43: Compression film

[0092] 44: Upper barrier film

Claims

1. Base layer; A transparent electrode film comprising a transparent electrode layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate layer and having a plurality of through holes spaced apart along the length direction in the widthwise edge areas.

2. In the first paragraph, the through hole A transparent electrode film that is arranged in a widthwise direction.

3. In the second paragraph, the transparent electrode layer A transparent electrode film comprising a through line connecting two through holes facing each other in the width direction.

4. In the third paragraph, the through line A transparent electrode film comprising a plurality of electrodes along the longitudinal direction.

5. In the fourth paragraph, the through hole A transparent electrode film having a square cross-section.

6. A transparent electrode film according to any one of claims 1 to 5; A photoelectric element film comprising a photoelectric element formed on the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer of the transparent electrode film.

7. Photoelectric element film according to Article 6; A photoelectric cell comprising a photoelectric element encapsulating film bonded to the upper surface of the photoelectric element film while embedding the photoelectric element of the photoelectric element film.

8. In the 7th paragraph, the photoelectric element sealing film A conductive adhesive layer that is spaced apart and bonded to the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer while embedding the photoelectric element; A conductive film bonded to the upper surface of the conductive adhesive layer while embedding the photoelectric element; A thermocompression film that is bonded to the space between the conductive adhesive layer and the laminate of the conductive film while embedding the photoelectric element by thermocompression; and A photovoltaic cell comprising at least an upper barrier film bonded to the upper surface of the thermocompression film.

9. In the 8th paragraph, the conductive film Photoelectric cell, which is a bus-bar.

10. In the 9th paragraph, the photoelectric element An electron transport layer bonded to the upper surface of the transparent electrode layer; A photoactive layer bonded to the upper surface of the electron transport layer; a hole transport layer bonded to the upper surface of the photoactive layer; and A photovoltaic cell, which is an inverted structure organic solar cell including an upper electrode bonded to the upper surface of the hole transport layer.

11. In the 10th paragraph, the photoelectric element A photoelectric cell that is connected in series in a number along the width direction.

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