Back-Contact Photovoltaic Device Electrode Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Back-contacted solar cells face inefficiencies in current collection due to electrode placement on the light-receiving face, which reflects and absorbs sunlight, reducing available incident light for conversion.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic device with p- and n-type amorphous semiconductor films and electrodes arranged in a specific configuration on the back face, where p-electrodes are extended towards the periphery of the n-type semiconductor substrate, and n-electrodes are disposed within an overlapping region of the p-type amorphous semiconductor film, enhancing current collection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrodes are formed on the light-receiving face to collect current, then current collection efficiency is improved, but light reflection and absorption increase, reducing available incident light for conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the electrodes from the light-receiving face and relocates them to the back face of the semiconductor substrate. This separation removes the harmful interaction between electrodes and incident light, eliminating light reflection and absorption losses while preserving current collection functionality through the back-contact configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the electrode placement from a two-dimensional surface arrangement on the light-receiving face to a three-dimensional back-contact configuration. By moving electrodes to the opposite face of the substrate, the design creates spatial separation that eliminates light interference while maintaining electrical functionality
2Loss of energy
If electrodes are placed on the back face only, then light reflection and absorption are reduced, but current collection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a nested structure where the first and second amorphous semiconductor films are positioned between the back face electrodes and the crystalline semiconductor substrate. This nested configuration allows the amorphous films to mediate current collection from the substrate to the back-face electrodes, enhancing collection efficiency without compromising the light transmission benefits of back-contact design
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite material structures combining crystalline semiconductor substrate with amorphous semiconductor films. This composite approach creates optimized current collection pathways through the amorphous films while maintaining the substrate's photovoltaic properties and the back-contact configuration's light transmission advantages
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 configuration improves current collection efficiency by reducing leakage and optimizing electrode placement, leading to enhanced power generation in solar cells.
Implementation Method 1
Solar cells are capable of directly converting solar energy to electric energy
Data Source
AI summary
A photovoltaic device includes: a p- or n-type semiconductor substrate; a p-type amorphous semiconductor film and an n-type amorphous semiconductor film on a first-face side; p-electrodes on the p-type amorphous semiconductor film; and n-electrodes on the n-type amorphous semiconductor film, wherein: the p-electrodes and the n-electrodes are arranged at intervals; the p-type amorphous semiconductor film surrounds the n-type amorphous semiconductor film in an in-plane direction of the semiconductor substrate; the n-type amorphous semiconductor film has an edge portion providing an overlapping region where the n-type amorphous semiconductor film overlaps the p-type amorphous semiconductor film; and the n-electrodes are disposed in areas of the n-type amorphous semiconductor film that are surrounded by the overlapping region.