Arc-Shaped Solar Cell System With Exposed P-N Junction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional silicon-based solar cells have low light absorbing efficiency due to partial photons being absorbed by the front electrode and N-type silicon layer, resulting in sparse carrier generation and low photoelectric conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating a round P-N junction preform with stacked silicon layers, cutting it into rectangular and arc-shaped solar cells, where the P-N junction is directly exposed on the arc-shaped surface, reducing light obstruction by electrodes and increasing the surface area for light absorption, thereby enhancing the photoelectric conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional silicon-based solar cell structure with front electrode and N-type silicon layer is used, then the solar cell can be manufactured with standard processes, but the light absorbing efficiency of the P-N junction is low due to photon absorption by the front electrode and N-type silicon layer
Solution Approach 1:
The solar cell is divided into multiple functional layers with the P-N junction exposed on the side surface rather than buried between front electrode and N-type layer. This segmentation allows direct light access to the junction while maintaining separate electrode connections, resolving the contradiction between manufacturability and light absorption efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The P-N junction is repositioned from a planar interface within the cell structure to a vertically exposed side surface. This dimensional change allows light to reach the junction from the side rather than through the front electrode and N-type layer, eliminating photon absorption losses while preserving standard manufacturing processes.
2Reliability
If the front electrode and N-type silicon layer are placed in the light path, then the solar cell structure is complete and functional, but carriers generated by photon excitation are sparse due to reduced light reaching the P-N junction
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having light pass through the front electrode and N-type layer to reach the P-N junction, the structure is inverted so that the P-N junction is exposed on the side surface and directly receives incident light. This inversion maintains functional completeness while dramatically improving photoelectric conversion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The P-N junction is extracted from its traditional position between the front electrode and N-type silicon layer and repositioned to the side surface. This extraction removes the junction from the light-blocking path while maintaining its essential function, thereby improving carrier generation efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases the light absorbing efficiency of the P-N junction by directly exposing it to incident light, leading to a higher generation of electron-hole pairs and improved photoelectric conversion efficiency in solar cells.
Implementation Method 1
An operating principle of a solar cell is the photoelectric effect of a semiconducting material
Data Source
AI summary
A solar cell system making method includes steps of making a round P-N junction by (a) stacking a P-type silicon layer and a N-type silicon layer on top of each other, and (b) forming a P-N junction near an interface between the P-type silicon layer and the N-type silicon layer; cutting the round P-N junction into a plurality of arc shaped solar cell preforms; forming an arc shaped surface by stacking the plurality of arc shaped solar cell preforms along a first direction and forming an electrode layer between each adjacent two of the plurality of arc shaped solar cell preforms; and forming a first collection electrode and a second collection electrode to form an arc shaped solar cell system having a photoreceptive surface being on the arc shaped surface and being configured to receive incident light beams.