Semitransparent Chalcogen Solar Cell with Protective Interlayer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar cells are opaque and employ metal electrodes that block light, making them unsuitable for semitransparent applications, and existing semitransparent designs suffer from light-induced degradation or long-term stability issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of semitransparent chalcogen solar cells with a transparent back contact, using a p-n junction structure and a protective interlayer to prevent damage during fabrication, allowing light to enter from both sides and enhancing light capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional solar cells use metal back electrodes, then electrical conductivity is improved, but light transmission is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional metal back electrode from the solar cell structure and replaces it with a transparent contact layer. This extraction of the opaque metal component eliminates the light blocking issue while maintaining the electrical conductivity function through alternative transparent conducting materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the back contact from opaque metal to transparent conducting materials. This parameter change allows the back contact to maintain electrical conductivity while enabling light transmission, thus resolving the contradiction between power conduction and light transmission.
2Illumination intensity
If semitransparent solar cells use conventional materials, then light transmission is improved, but long-term stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective interlayer as an intermediary between the p-n junction and the environment. This interlayer acts as a mediator that protects the sensitive p-n junction from degradation while allowing the solar cell to maintain its semitransparent properties, thus improving long-term stability without sacrificing light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of multiple layers including transparent contacts, protective interlayers, and carefully engineered p-n junctions. This composite material approach combines the advantages of different materials to achieve both semitransparency and enhanced stability, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-material designs.
3Device complexity
If transparent contacts are formed directly on the p-n junction, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary protective action by depositing a protective interlayer on the p-n junction before forming the transparent contact. This preliminary protection prevents damage during the contact formation process, ensuring manufacturing precision while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective interlayer serves as a cushioning layer deposited beforehand to absorb or mitigate potential damage during subsequent manufacturing steps. This beforehand cushioning protects the sensitive p-n junction from mechanical or thermal stress during transparent contact formation, maintaining manufacturing precision.
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 solution enables improved light capture and increased power production by allowing light to enter from multiple directions, while maintaining the stability and performance of the solar cells, suitable for applications like architectural glass and wearable electronics.
Implementation Method 1
semitransparent chalcogen solar cells
Data Source
AI summary
Semitransparent chalcogen solar cells and techniques for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a solar cell includes: forming a first transparent contact on a substrate; depositing an n-type layer on the first transparent contact; depositing a p-type chalcogen absorber layer on the n-type layer, wherein a p-n junction is formed between the p-type chalcogen absorber layer and the n-type layer; depositing a protective interlayer onto the p-type chalcogen absorber layer, wherein the protective interlayer fully covers the p-type chalcogen absorber layer; and forming a second transparent contact on the interlayer, wherein the interlayer being disposed between the p-type chalcogen absorber layer and the second transparent contact serves to protect the p-n junction during the forming of the second transparent contact. Solar cells and other methods for formation thereof are also provided.