Composite Tunneling Structure in Laminated Solar Cells

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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, leading to reduced stability and 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, and improving the fill factor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a conventional tunneling structure is used in the laminated solar cell, then the device complexity is reduced, but the resistance increases and carrier recombination occurs, leading to reduced efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetunneling structure complexityVSAvoidefficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining metal-doped metallic oxide (main body material layer) with N-type or P-type semiconductor material (auxiliary material layer) to form a tunneling structure. This composite structure reduces resistance and carrier recombination compared to conventional single-material tunneling structures, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by creating distinct layers with different material properties within the tunneling structure. The main body material layer (metal-doped metallic oxide) provides one set of electrical properties, while the auxiliary material layer (semiconductor material) provides complementary properties, allowing each layer to optimize specific functions for reduced resistance and carrier loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the tunneling structure uses simple material composition, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the resistance is high and fill factor is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetunneling structure fabricationVSAvoidfill factor
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The composite tunneling structure combines metal-doped metallic oxide with semiconductor material, where each component can be deposited using standard thin-film techniques. The layered composite approach allows sequential deposition processes that are manageable with existing manufacturing equipment, while achieving improved fill factor through reduced resistance and carrier recombination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the tunneling structure uses metal-doped metallic oxide and semiconductor material layers, then the resistance is reduced and efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidtunneling structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials to achieve improved efficiency through reduced resistance and carrier recombination. The metal-doped metallic oxide provides excellent electrical conductivity, while the semiconductor material layer provides complementary electronic properties, together creating a tunneling structure that outperforms conventional single-material designs despite the increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary material layer (semiconductor material) acts as an intermediary between the main body material layer and the carrier transport layers. This intermediate layer facilitates carrier transport and reduces recombination, serving as a mediator that improves overall device efficiency while managing the complexity of the multi-layer structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances the efficiency and stability of the laminated solar cell by minimizing internal resistance and carrier recombination, thereby increasing current density and fill factor.

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSemiconductor carrier transport:

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4694634A1Laminated solar cell and preparation method therefor, and electrical device
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4694634A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4694634A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4694634A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are a laminated solar cell and a preparation method therefor, and an electrical apparatus, which belong to the technical field of solar cells. The laminated solar cell includes: a first sub-cell, a tunneling structure and a second sub-cell which are sequentially arranged in a first direction, wherein the first direction is an incident direction of sunlight; the first sub-cell includes a first carrier transport layer, a first light absorption layer and a second carrier transport layer which are sequentially arranged in the first direction; the second sub-cell includes a third carrier transport layer, a second light absorption layer and a fourth carrier transport layer which are sequentially arranged in the first direction; and the tunneling structure includes a main body material layer and an auxiliary material layer, the main body material layer includes a metal-doped metallic oxide, the auxiliary material layer includes an N-type semiconductor material or a P-type semiconductor material, the auxiliary material layer is located between the main body material layer and the third carrier transport layer, and the main body material layer is located between the second carrier transport layer and the auxiliary material layer, thereby being beneficial to improving the efficiency and stability of the laminated solar cell.