Photovoltaic Device Protection Layer Against Contamination
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing backside-electrode-based solar cells are prone to degradation due to external water and foreign matter seeping into the amorphous silicon layer, which attenuates passivation characteristics and degrades the photovoltaic device.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic device with a semiconductor substrate, an intrinsic amorphous semiconductor layer, and spaced-apart amorphous semiconductor strips of opposite conductivity types, where a protection layer is formed between the strips to prevent contamination and degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amorphous semiconductor strips are spaced apart to form electrodes, then electrical functionality is achieved, but external water and foreign matter can seep into the gaps and degrade the device
Solution Approach 1:
A protection layer is introduced as an intermediary substance between the spaced-apart amorphous semiconductor strips. This protection layer fills the gaps and prevents external water and foreign matter from reaching and contaminating the intrinsic amorphous semiconductor layer, while allowing the electrode structure to function properly.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection layer forms a thin film covering structure that seals the gaps between the amorphous semiconductor strips. This thin film acts as a barrier shell that protects the underlying semiconductor layer from environmental contamination while maintaining the electrical functionality of the spaced-apart strip structure.
2Reliability
If a protection layer is added to prevent contamination, then device durability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection layer formation process is merged with the existing semiconductor manufacturing process flow. By integrating the protection layer deposition into the standard fabrication sequence, the additional protective function is achieved without requiring completely separate manufacturing equipment or processes, thereby limiting the increase in manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A photovoltaic device (1) includes: an i-type amorphous semiconductor layer (102i) formed in contact with one of the surfaces of a semiconductor substrate (101); p-type amorphous semiconductor strips (102p) spaced apart from each other and provided on the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer (102i); and n-type amorphous semiconductor strips (102n) spaced apart from each other and provided on the i amorphous semiconductor layer (102i), each n-type amorphous semiconductor strip (102n) being adjacent to at least one of the p-type amorphous semiconductor strips (102p) as traced along an in-plane direction of the semiconductor substrate (101). The photovoltaic device (1) further includes electrodes (103) as a protection layer formed in contact with the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer (102) between adjacent p-type amorphous semiconductor strips (102p) and between adjacent n-type amorphous semiconductor strips (102n).