Through-Hole Flexible Solar Cell Substrate for Repeated Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Solar cell substrates made of flexible materials are prone to developing bending marks, damage, or fracture due to repeated bending, which affects their performance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating through-holes in the first film layer of the substrate, which allows the layer to bend more easily and reduces stress during deformation, thereby enhancing bending resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible plastic substrate is used for solar cells, then the substrate can be bent to adapt to curved surfaces, but the substrate develops bending marks, damage, or fracture during repeated bending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending capabilityVSAvoidbending resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the porous materials principle by introducing through-holes into the flexible substrate. These through-holes create a porous structure that allows the substrate to bend more easily by providing stress relief points. The holes enable the material to deform without accumulating excessive stress that would lead to bending marks or fracture, thus maintaining reliability while preserving flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the local quality principle by creating regions of different structural properties within the substrate. The through-holes are strategically positioned to create local variations in stiffness and stress distribution. This allows the substrate to have different mechanical properties in different regions, with the holed areas providing flexibility and stress relief while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the substrate structure is modified to improve bending resistance, then the substrate can withstand repeated bending, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending resistanceVSAvoidsubstrate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the segmentation principle by dividing the continuous substrate structure into segmented regions separated by through-holes. This segmentation creates discrete zones that can deform independently during bending, reducing stress concentration. The through-holes effectively segment the material continuity, allowing each segment to accommodate bending stress without compromising the overall substrate integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4716438A1Substrate, solar cell, photovoltaic system and electrical device
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX FUTURE ENERGY RES INST (SHANGHAI) LTD
  • EP4716438A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4716438A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4716438A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A substrate (1110), a solar cell (1100), a photovoltaic system, and an electric device are provided. The substrate (1110) includes a first film layer (100), where at least one through-hole (110) is provided on the first film layer (100). When the substrate (1110) undergoes bending, the first film layer (100) bends and deforms accordingly. Since the through-hole (110) is provided on the first film layer (100), the through-hole (110) can reduce stress experienced by the first film layer (100) surrounding the through-hole due to bending, thereby improving bending resistance of the first film layer (100), and further improving bending resistance of the substrate (1110). This reduces a risk that the substrate (1110) develops bending marks, fractures, or breaks during repeated bending.