Semi-Transparent Solar Cell With Reflector for Higher Light Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Semi-transparent solar cells used in applications like horological movements face a trade-off between transparency and electrical efficiency, where increased transparency results in lower efficiency and vice versa.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a solar cell with a transparent substrate, a first transparent electrode, a unit solar cell, and a second transparent electrode, with cavities in the second electrode and unit solar cell to allow light transmission. Additionally, a reflecting element is used to reflect light onto the unit solar cell, enhancing light absorption and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the surface area covered by holes and trenches in the solar cell is increased to improve transparency, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the electrical efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A reflecting element is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the solar cell. This reflector redirects transmitted light back onto the solar cell's active area, allowing the solar cell to maintain high electrical efficiency while the cell can have larger openings for aesthetic transparency. The reflector mediates between the conflicting requirements of light transmission for appearance and light absorption for power generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional planar solar cell structure to a three-dimensional configuration by adding a reflecting element beneath or around the solar cell. This dimensional change allows light to be redirected from below or from the sides, enabling the solar cell to capture light that would otherwise be lost through the transparent areas, thus resolving the contradiction between transparency and efficiency.
2Reliability
If the surface area of the solar cell covered by holes and trenches is decreased to improve electrical efficiency, then the electrical efficiency is improved, but the transparency and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting element serves as a mediator that compensates for the reduced transparency. By redirecting light that would otherwise pass through the solar cell, the reflector ensures that sufficient light reaches the active areas, allowing the design to prioritize electrical efficiency while maintaining acceptable aesthetic appearance through controlled transparency.
3Reliability
If the solar cell is made fully opaque to maximize light absorption, then the electrical efficiency is maximized, but the aesthetic requirement for transparency is not met
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting element is the key intermediary that enables the solar cell to achieve both full opacity for maximum efficiency and aesthetic transparency. By placing the reflector behind or around the cell, the system can be designed with larger opening areas while the reflector ensures light is redirected onto the active areas, decoupling the aesthetic transparency requirement from the efficiency requirement.
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 allows the solar cell to absorb a greater quantity of light, resulting in a substantial improvement in electrical efficiency while maintaining transparency, thus addressing the aesthetic and efficiency trade-off.
Implementation Method 1
The unit solar cell is adapted to absorb light radiation, i.e. light radiation transmitted through the substrate, and to generate an electrical voltage therefrom at the terminals of said first and second electrodes
Implementation Method 2
a reflecting element configured to reflect at least part of said light radiation and being arranged so that the unit solar cell is exposed to the reflected part of the light radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a solar cell (10) comprising a substrate (100) made of a transparent material and intended to be exposed to light radiation, a first electrode (110) formed on the substrate (100), and a unit solar cell (130) arranged between this first electrode (110) and a second electrode (120), the first and second electrodes (110, 120) being made of an electrically conductive and transparent material, the unit solar cell (130) being adapted to absorb light radiation and to generate an electric current therefrom at the terminals of said first and second electrodes (110, 120), the second electrode (120) and the unit solar cell (130) being perforated so as to allow light radiation to pass through said solar cell (10).