An element includes a first substrate and a layer including a first conductive layer with a first conductive portion and a second conductive layer. The element includes a cell including the first conductive portion, a second substrate and a sealing portion. A groove is formed between the first and second conductive layers, the element includes an insulating layer provided between the sealing portion and the first substrate, and an outer circumferential edge of the insulating layer is provided to surround the entire sealing portion. The insulating layer covers and hides a portion of the first conductive layer, which protrudes outside the sealing portion, inside from the outer circumferential edge of the insulating layer and outside the sealing portion, enters the groove and covers a part of the second conductive layer, and the rest of the second conductive layer is exposed.

A solar cell module (100) includes: one or more cells that are enclosed by a barrier packaging material (13A, 13B) and that include first and second base plates (3, 7) and a functional layer; and first and second lead-out electrodes (11A, 11B) that are respectively connected to electrodes (2, 6) disposed at the sides of the respective base plates (3, 7) via electrical connectors (12A, 12B). The electrical connectors (12A, 12B) are separated from the functional layer in a base plate surface direction. The lead-out electrodes (11A, 11B) are disposed on an outer surface of the barrier packaging material (13A, 13B). Gaps between the barrier packaging material (13A, 13B) and the lead-out electrodes (11A, 11B) are sealed by a lead-out electrode seal (15).

A solar cell module (100) includes: a barrier packaging material (13A, 13B) that is sealed by a seal (14) and encloses a connected body including one or more cells; and lead-out electrodes (11A, 11B). The solar cell module (100) includes a gap between the barrier packaging material and a periphery of the connected body in a base plate surface direction. A filling member (30) is present in at least part of the gap.

A photoelectric conversion device includes: a photoelectric conversion element; a voltage converter; an electric storage; a load; a voltage monitor; a switch that switches between a first state and a second state; and a controller. In the first state, a voltage output from the voltage converter is applied to the electric storage but not the load, and in the second state, the voltage output is not applied to either the electric storage or the load. When the monitored voltage of the electric storage reaches a full charge voltage of the electric storage, the electric storage is discharged and a voltage is applied to the load by switching the switch to the second state. When the monitored voltage of the electric storage becomes less than the full charge voltage of the electric storage, the electric storage is charged by switching the switch to the first state.

A solar cell includes elements, a connecting portion, and a transparent portion. The elements include first and second elements arrayed in a first direction. The transparent portion is located between the connecting portion and the second element. Each of the elements includes first and second electrode layers and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first and second electrode layers. Between the first element and the second element, their first electrode layers sandwich a first gap and their second electrode layers sandwich a second gap shifted in the first direction from the first gap. The connecting portion electrically connects the second electrode layer of the first element to the first electrode layer of the second element. The transparent portion is located between the second electrode layer of the first element and the first electrode layer of the second element at a position shifted in the first direction from the connecting portion.

Hybrid solar cell plates with integrated bypass diodes and modules thereof are described. In an embodiment, a hybrid solar cell plate includes a step surface including a floor and a step edge extending from the floor and across a thickness of a top subcell. A bypass diode is over the floor and laterally adjacent to the step edge.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of producing a photovoltaic apparatus. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate; forming a first conducting electrode layer on the substrate; forming a first charge selective layer at least partially over the first conducting electrode layer; forming a photoactive layer at least partially over the first charge selective layer; forming a second charge selective layer at least partially over the photoactive layer; removing portions the formed layers at predetermined intervals along the substrate creating discrete layer sections partially forming individual photovoltaic modules; and printing a second conducting electrode layer partially over the discrete layer sections and substrate to form a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module having first and second module terminals, a plurality of inter-module rails, each inter-module rail being located between adjacent photovoltaic modules, a first bus bar extending along one side of the photovoltaic modules, and a second bus bar extending along an opposite side of the photovoltaic modules.

A photovoltaic device comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, an active layer disposed at least partially between the first and second electrodes, an interfacial layer disposed at least partially between the first and second electrodes, and a non-stoichiometric oxide layer disposed at least partially between and in contact with one of the first or second electrodes and an encapsulant layer. The active layer of the photovoltaic device comprises a photoactive material.

A monolithic-type module of a perovskite solar cell includes: a plurality of unit cells including a substrate, a first electrode layer formed on the substrate and having conductivity, a perovskite optical absorption layer formed on the upper surface of the first electrode layer, and made of a porous metal oxide to which an optical absorber having a perovskite structure is attached, and a hole transport layer formed on the upper surface of the perovskite optical absorption layer; and a second electrode layer formed on the hole transport layer and formed of a conductive material, wherein an interconnection partition electrode of a predetermined height is formed between individual unit cells such that the plurality of unit cells are connected in series by interconnection wiring for electrically connecting the second electrode layer of each unit cell with the first electrode layer of a neighboring unit cell by the interconnection partition electrode.

Provided is a photoelectric conversion element including a supporting substrate, a conductive layer, a power generating layer onto which a metal complex dye is adsorbed, and a counter electrode, in which the conductive layer, the power generating layer, and the counter electrode are laminated in this order on the supporting substrate, some or all of voids provided in each of the power generating layer and the counter electrode contain an electrolyte, an adsorption amount of the metal complex dye is 1.010.sup.8 to 1.810.sup.7 mol/cm.sup.2, and the metal complex dye is represented by a specific formula. Also provided is a photoelectric conversion module including a plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements connected to each other.