Laminated Solar Cell Tunneling Structure for Low-Resistance Carrier Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficiency of laminated solar cells is hindered by high resistance and carrier recombination in the tunneling structure, which affects the fill factor and overall performance.
Innovation Solution
A laminated solar cell design incorporating a metal-doped metallic oxide as the main body material layer and an N-type or P-type semiconductor material as the auxiliary material layer in the tunneling structure, reducing resistance and carrier loss, thereby improving the fill factor and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional tunneling structure is used to connect sub-cells, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the resistance is high and carrier recombination occurs, reducing fill factor and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The tunneling structure is segmented into multiple functional layers: a first tunneling layer (metal-doped metallic oxide) for primary charge carrier transport and a second tunneling layer (organic semiconductor material) for auxiliary carrier transport and interface passivation. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in specific functions, reducing overall resistance and carrier recombination while improving fill factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The tunneling structure employs composite materials combining inorganic metal-doped metallic oxide with organic semiconductor materials. This composite approach leverages the high conductivity of the inorganic layer and the good interface compatibility of the organic layer, achieving low resistance and reduced carrier recombination simultaneously, thereby improving fill factor without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If the tunneling structure uses simple material composition, then the manufacturing is easier, but the conductivity is insufficient and resistance remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic oxide material is doped with metals such as indium, aluminum, or gallium to change its electrical parameters. This doping increases the conductivity of the first tunneling layer significantly, enabling efficient charge carrier transport between sub-cells. The doping process can be integrated into existing sputtering or chemical vapor deposition equipment, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high conductivity.
3Productivity
If the tunneling structure is optimized for low resistance, then the fill factor improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The organic semiconductor material layer acts as an intermediary between the metal-doped metallic oxide layer and the adjacent sub-cell interfaces. It provides smooth interface transitions, passivates interface defects that would cause carrier recombination, and facilitates efficient charge carrier extraction. This intermediary layer enables the inorganic layer to achieve low resistance without compromising interface quality, improving efficiency without excessive structural complexity.
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
The proposed design enhances the conductivity and stability of the tunneling structure, leading to improved efficiency and fill factor of the laminated solar cell.
Implementation Method 1
The main body material layer includes a metal-doped metallic oxide... By providing the main body material layer, the resistance between the tunneling structure and the first sub-cell or the second sub-cell can be reduced
Implementation Method 2
The auxiliary material layer includes an N-type semiconductor material or a P-type semiconductor material... By providing the auxiliary material layer, it is beneficial to reducing the recombination of carriers between the tunneling structure and the first sub-cell or the second sub-cell
Implementation Method 3
The first light absorption layer and the second light absorption layer can generate an electron-hole pair under the irradiation of sunlight
Data Source
AI summary
A laminated solar cell includes, in order along an incident direction of sunlight, a first sub-cell, a tunneling structure, and a second sub-cell. The first sub-cell includes a first carrier transport layer, a first light absorption layer, and a second carrier transport layer arranged sequentially along the incident direction. The second sub-cell includes a third carrier transport layer, a second light absorption layer, and a fourth carrier transport layer arranged in the same direction. The tunneling structure, disposed between the first and second sub-cells, includes a main body material layer and an auxiliary material layer. The main body material layer includes a metal-doped metallic oxide and is located between the second carrier transport layer and the auxiliary material layer. The auxiliary material layer, comprising an N-type or P-type semiconductor material, is positioned between the main body material layer and the third carrier transport layer.