Semitransparent Thin-Film Solar Module Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semitransparent thin-film solar modules face challenges in achieving high visible-light transmittance while maintaining electrical efficiency, often resulting in undesirable color filter effects due to the thin absorber layer used in existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
The development of a semitransparent thin-film solar module with integrated serially connected solar cells, featuring a layer structure with alternating optically transparent and electrode zones, where the rear electrodes are continuously connected across solar cells, avoiding the color filter effect and enhancing mechanical stability through a substrate configuration that allows for flexible design and high mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a thin absorber layer is used to achieve high visible-light transmittance, then transparency is improved, but an undesirable color filter effect develops
Solution Approach 1:
The solar module is divided into multiple solar cells arranged in series, with each cell contributing to overall transparency. By segmenting the active area into multiple smaller cells rather than using a single large thin absorber, the patent achieves high visible-light transmittance (85-100%) while avoiding the color filter effect that plagues uniform thin absorber designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the solar module have different optical properties - the absorber layer is positioned only in specific local areas where solar cells are formed, rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This allows transparent regions to provide high visible-light transmittance while localized absorber regions generate electricity without creating unwanted color effects.
2Illumination intensity
If the absorber layer is made thin to improve transparency, then visible-light transmittance is improved, but electrical efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the solar module into multiple series-connected solar cells, each with its own absorber layer. This segmentation allows each cell to be optimized for electrical efficiency while the overall module maintains high transparency because the absorber material is not continuously present across the entire light path.
Solution Approach 2:
The series connection of multiple solar cells ensures continuous electrical action across the module. By connecting cells in series rather than using a single thin absorber, the patent maintains electrical efficiency through cumulative voltage generation while preserving optical transparency through the transparent regions between and around the cells.
3Manufacturing precision
If masking processes are used in production to create patterns, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to high cost and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the masking process from the production methodology. Instead of using masks to define patterns during deposition, the invention applies coating materials over the entire substrate surface and then selectively removes material in subsequent processing steps, thereby simplifying the production process and improving productivity without sacrificing pattern accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional manufacturing approach by applying the opposite sequence of operations. Rather than depositing material only where needed (requiring masks), the method deposits material everywhere and then removes it where not needed. This inversion eliminates the masking step, reducing production time and cost while maintaining the required structural 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
This configuration achieves a high visible-light transmittance of 85% to 100% while maintaining electrical efficiency, reducing sensitivity to shading and hot spots, and avoiding layer inhomogeneities, thus providing a visually appealing and effective solution for building-integrated photovoltaic applications.
Implementation Method 1
solar cells (11) serially connected one to another in an integrated form... for photovoltaic energy generation
Data Source
AI summary
A thin-film solar module with a substrate and a layer structure applied thereon comprising a rear electrode layer, a front electrode layer, and an absorber layer arranged between the back electrode layer and the front electrode layer. Serially connected solar cells are formed in the layer region by patterning zones, having a rear electrode layer section. The layer region has at least one linear decoating region. The decoating region has an alternating sequence of optically transparent zones and electrode zones. The optically transparent zones are rear-electrode-layer-free and the electrode zones are absorber-layer-free and have a rear electrode layer section. The rear-electrode-layer-sections of at least one pair made up of one solar cell of one solar cell string and one solar cell of the other solar cell string are areally connected to one another by the rear-electrode-layer-section of at least one electrode zone.