Back Contact Solar Cell Electrode Plating with Rounded Corners

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for forming electrodes in back contact solar cells, such as using conductive paste or sputtering, face challenges in achieving high conversion efficiency, particularly when the electrodes are formed using the plating method.

Innovation Solution

The use of a plating method to form electrodes with linear portions on a solar cell substrate, where the corners of the electrode tip ends are rounded, allowing for efficient carrier collection and reducing the likelihood of short circuits and recombination of minority carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the plating method is used to form electrodes, then the manufacturing process can be simplified, but it is difficult to sufficiently improve conversion efficiency of the solar cell

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the spheroidality principle by forming rounded corners at the tip ends of linear portions of electrodes. This curvature design prevents sharp corners that would cause high electric field concentration, thereby reducing carrier recombination and improving conversion efficiency while maintaining the benefits of the plating method for electrode formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Shape

If electrodes are formed with sharp corners, then the linear portions can be clearly defined, but short circuits and recombination of minority carriers are more likely to occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveshapeVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the spheroidality principle by forming rounded corners at the tip ends of linear portions of electrodes. This curvature design prevents sharp corners that would cause high electric field concentration, thereby reducing carrier recombination and improving conversion efficiency while maintaining the benefits of the plating method for electrode formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 approach enhances the conversion efficiency of back contact solar cells by minimizing short circuits and recombination, while also improving the uniformity and appearance of the electrode structure.

Implementation Method 1

obtaining a linear portion whose corners of tip end are formed in a round shape from among the first and second linear portions, by forming an electroplated coating on a seed layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroplating: Electroplating

Data Source

PatentUS9660132B2Method of manufacturing solar cell
Publication Date: 2017.05.23 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • US9660132B2 patent drawing
  • US9660132B2 patent drawing
  • US9660132B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A solar cell includes a solar cell substrate including a principal surface on which a p-type surface and an n-type surface are exposed, a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion linearly extending in a first direction, and an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface and including a second linear portion linearly extending in the first direction and arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions are formed in a chamfered shape.