Patterned Electrodeposition for Light-Transmitting Solar Cells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compound thin film solar cells face efficiency degradation due to shunt and recombination losses caused by patterning of the back contact, leading to reduced light transmittance and aesthetic issues, limiting their application in urban areas and portable devices.

Innovation Solution

A method using electrochemical deposition and selective electrodeposition to form a light transmission type compound thin film with a patterned electrode, incorporating a passivation film to prevent shunt and recombination losses, while maintaining light transmittance and aesthetic appeal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the back contact is patterned to impart light transmittance, then light transmittance and aesthetic appeal are improved, but shunt loss and recombination loss increase causing efficiency degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidshunt loss and recombination loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The back contact is divided into multiple discrete patterned regions rather than a continuous layer, creating isolated contact points that maintain electrical function while allowing light transmission through the gaps between segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediate layer or structure is introduced between the patterned back contact and the light absorption layer to prevent direct contact at cut surfaces, thereby eliminating shunt paths while maintaining electrical connectivity through the intermediate structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If the back contact is patterned, then light transmittance is improved, but the quality of light absorption thin film degrades at lateral surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidquality of light absorption thin film

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The back contact is patterned and protected with passivation layers before depositing the light absorption thin film, ensuring that lateral surfaces are pre-prepared to receive uniform film deposition without defects or variability in thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Weight of moving object

If compound thin film solar cells are made lightweight and flexible, then application field is expanded, but structural stability and durability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of solar cellVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The solar cell structure employs thin film layers deposited on flexible substrates, replacing rigid crystalline silicon with flexible compound semiconductor films that enable bending and conformal mounting while maintaining functional integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functional layers including flexible substrates, buffer layers, light absorption layers, and contact layers are combined into a composite structure that distributes mechanical stress and enhances overall structural stability despite individual layer flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 method effectively prevents shunt and recombination losses, enhances light transmittance, and improves the aesthetic appeal of solar cells, expanding their application to urban areas and portable devices without material loss or additional processing steps.

Implementation Method 1

applying a reduction voltage or current to a working electrode in the form of an electrode on which a specific pattern is patterned on a predetermined substrate to selectively electrodeposit a thin film in some region of the electrode along a shape of the electrode at which the specific pattern is patterned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrodeposition: Electrodeposition

Implementation Method 2

configuring an electrodeposition circuit by connecting an electrolytic solution, which is manufactured by mixing a predetermined precursor with a solvent, and an electrochemical cell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical deposition: Electrodeposition

Data Source

PatentUS11031517B2Method of manufacturing light transmission type compound thin film, compound thin film manufactured therefrom, and solar cell including the same

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 KOREA INST OF SCI & TECH

AI summary

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a compound thin film, which includes configuring an electrodeposition circuit by connecting an electrolytic solution, which is manufactured by mixing a predetermined precursor with a solvent, and an electrochemical cell, which includes a working electrode in a form of an electrode at which a specific pattern is patterned on a predetermined substrate, to a voltage application device or a current application device, and applying a reduction voltage or current to the working electrode using the voltage application device or the current application device, and selectively electrodepositing a thin film in some region of the electrode along a shape of the electrode at which the specific pattern is patterned.