Integrated Solar Cell Storage Device Power Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar batteries suffer from reduced energy efficiency due to the significant power loss caused by electrons having to travel a long distance between solar cells and energy storage devices, which are not integrated with a shared electrode.
Innovation Solution
An all-solid-state integrated energy harvesting and storage device (IEHSD) is developed, where the bottom electrode of the solar cell and the electrode of the energy storage device are electrically common and within a short distance of each other, often secured together by a conductive adhesive or shared metal material, allowing for direct charge transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If solar cells and energy storage devices are integrated with a shared electrode, then energy efficiency is improved by reducing electron travel distance, but device complexity increases due to the need for precise alignment and integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the solar cell and energy storage device into a single integrated structure where they share a common electrode. The solar cell's bottom electrode and the energy storage device's electrode are electrically connected and positioned within 300 μm of each other, enabling direct charge transfer and eliminating the need for separate connection pathways. This merging reduces energy loss while managing integration complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conductive adhesive as an intermediary material to connect the solar cell's bottom electrode with the energy storage device's electrode. This conductive adhesive serves as a mediator that facilitates direct electrical contact between the two components, enabling efficient charge transfer while simplifying the integration process by providing a straightforward connection method.
2Productivity
If the electrode separation distance is reduced to ≤300 μm, then charge transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the solar cell and energy storage device into an integrated structure with a shared electrode, the patent eliminates the need for precise alignment between separate components. The common electrode serves as a reference plane that simplifies positioning, allowing the electrodes to be within 300 μm of each other without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive adhesive acts as an intermediary that compensates for minor positioning variations between the solar cell and energy storage device. This adhesive layer provides a forgiving connection interface that maintains effective electrical contact even when electrode alignment is not perfectly precise, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while still achieving high charge transfer 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 configuration significantly reduces power loss and enhances energy efficiency by enabling direct transfer of charges between the solar cell and the storage device, maintaining high efficiency even after repeated bending cycles and long-term use.
Implementation Method 1
A solar cell is an example of an energy harvesting (or energy generation) device
Implementation Method 2
The bottom electrode of the SC and the first or second electrode of the SD can be secured together by an electrically conductive adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated energy harvesting and storage device (IEHSD) includes a solar cell (SC) including an active layer between an optically transparent top electrode and a bottom electrode, and an energy storage device (SD) secured below the solar cell including a separator between a first electrode and a second electrode. The bottom electrode and the first or second electrode are electrically common with one another and are within a distance of ≤300 μm from one another.