A tandem solar cell according to an embodiment includes a top cell string, a bottom cell string, a top cell module, a first string connection, a bottom cell module, and a second string connection. The top cell string is formed by electrically connecting a plurality of top cells. The bottom cell string is formed by electrically connecting a plurality of bottom cells. The bottom cell string is arranged so as to overlap the top cell string in a plan view in a thickness direction of the top cell. The first string connection includes a first extending portion extending to an outside of the top cell module in the plan view. A plurality of bottom cell strings are electrically connected to the bottom cell module. The first extending portion and the second extending portion are arranged apart from each other in the plan view.

The present invention relates to three dimensional photovoltaic structures and a power generation apparatus comprising same. The photovoltaic structure comprises a light transmitting solid optical core having a longitudinal axis, a top end, a bottom end and one or more side walls, wherein the top end has an exposed outer surface to receive light. A photovoltaic layer surrounds at least a portion of one or more of the side walls of the optical core and an optical cladding layer surrounds the photovoltaic layer.

The present invention relates to three dimensional photovoltaic structures and a power generation apparatus comprising same. The photovoltaic structure comprises a light transmitting solid optical core having a longitudinal axis, a top end, a bottom end and one or more side walls, wherein the top end has an exposed outer surface to receive light. A photovoltaic layer surrounds at least a portion of one or more of the side walls of the optical core and an optical cladding layer surrounds the photovoltaic layer.

A multi-junction photovoltaic device comprising a layer of metal oxynitride between a first sub-cell and a second sub-cell is disclosed, the first sub-cell having a layer comprising a perovskite light absorber material. In addition, a method of manufacturing said multi junction photovoltaic device is disclosed. The metal oxynitride is preferably titanium oxynitride. Advantageously, the device may be produced in a simple, fast, consistent and inexpensive manner, whilst the properties of the titanium oxynitride layer may be tuned to avoid the occurrence of local shunt paths and to reduce reflection losses.

A photovoltaic cell array and a photovoltaic module are provided. The photovoltaic cell array includes multiple solar cells and a flexible metal conductive strip. Each solar cell includes an upper surface, upper segment electrodes, a lower surface, and lower segment electrodes. A first solar cell including a first overlap region is adjacent to a second solar cell including a second overlap region. The second overlap region, a third overlap region of the flexible metal conductive strip, and the first overlap region are sequentially stacked. The flexible metal conductive strip is welded to only one lower segment electrode and only one upper segment electrode. The lower segment electrodes of the first solar cell are outside the first overlap region, and the upper segment electrodes are outside the second overlap region.

A photovoltaic cell array and a photovoltaic module are provided. The photovoltaic cell array includes multiple solar cells and a flexible metal conductive strip. Each solar cell includes an upper surface, upper segment electrodes, a lower surface, and lower segment electrodes. A first solar cell including a first overlap region is adjacent to a second solar cell including a second overlap region. The second overlap region, a third overlap region of the flexible metal conductive strip, and the first overlap region are sequentially stacked. The flexible metal conductive strip is welded to only one lower segment electrode and only one upper segment electrode. The lower segment electrodes of the first solar cell are outside the first overlap region, and the upper segment electrodes are outside the second overlap region.

A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, an n-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer located between the p-electrode and the n-electrode and mainly containing a cuprous oxide, and an n-type layer includes a first n-type layer which is located between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode and mainly contains a compound represented by Ga.sub.x1M1.sub.x2M2.sub.x3M3.sub.x4O.sub.x5, the M1 being Al and/or B, the M2 being one or more selected from the group consisting of In, Ti, Zn, Hf, and Zr, the M3 being one or more selected from the group consisting of Sn, Si, and Ge, the x1 and the x5 being more than 0, the x2, the x3, and the x4 being 0 or more, and the x5 when a sum of the x1, the x2, the x3, and the x4 is 2 being 3.0 or more and 3.8 or less, and a second n-type layer which is located between the first n-type layer and the n-electrode and mainly contains a compound represented by Ga.sub.y1M1.sub.y2M2.sub.y3M3.sub.y4O.sub.y5, the y1 and the y5 being more than 0, the y2, the y3, and the y4 being 0 or more, and the y5 when a sum of the y1, the y2, the y3, and the y4 is 2 being 3.0 or more and 3.8 or less, or a first n-type region which is located between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode and mainly contains a compound represented by Ga.sub.x1M1.sub.x2M2.sub.x3M3.sub.x4O.sub.x5, the M1 being Al and/or B, the M2 being one or more selected from the group consisting of In, Ti, Zn, Hf, and Zr, the M3 being one or more selected from the group consisting of Sn, Si, and Ge, the x1 and the x5 being more than 0, the x2, the x3, and the x4 being 0 or more, and the x5 when a sum of the x1, the x2, the x3, and the x4 is 2 being 3.0 or more and 3.8 or less, and a second n-type region which is located between the first n-type region and the n-electrode and mainly contains a compound represented by Ga.sub.y1M1.sub.y2M2.sub.y3M3.sub.y4O.sub.y5, the y1 and the y5 being more than 0, the y2, the y3, and the y4 being 0 or more, and the y5 when a sum of the y1, the y2, the y3, and the y4 is 2 being 3.0 or more and 3.8 or less, wherein (x2+x3) is larger than (y2+y3).

A solar cell of an embodiment includes: a substrate; an n-electrode; an n-type layer; a p-type light absorption layer which is a semiconductor of a Cu-based oxide; and a p-electrode. The n-electrode is disposed between the substrate and the n-type layer. The n-type layer is disposed between the n-electrode and the p-type light absorption layer. The p-type light absorption layer is disposed between the n-type layer and the p-electrode. The n-type layer is disposed closer to a light incident side than the p-type light absorption layer. The substrate is a single substrate included in the solar cell.

A photovoltaic module includes a first transparent electrode layer characterized by a first sheet resistance, a second transparent electrode layer, and a photovoltaic material layer. The photovoltaic material layer is located between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer. The photovoltaic module also includes a first busbar having a second sheet resistance lower than the first sheet resistance. The first transparent electrode layer, the second transparent electrode layer, and the photovoltaic material layer have an aligned region that forms a central transparent area of the photovoltaic module. The central transparent area including a plurality of sides. The first busbar is in contact with the first transparent electrode layer adjacent to at least a portion of each of the plurality of sides of the central transparent area.

A photovoltaic module includes a first transparent electrode layer characterized by a first sheet resistance, a second transparent electrode layer, and a photovoltaic material layer. The photovoltaic material layer is located between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer. The photovoltaic module also includes a first busbar having a second sheet resistance lower than the first sheet resistance. The first transparent electrode layer, the second transparent electrode layer, and the photovoltaic material layer have an aligned region that forms a central transparent area of the photovoltaic module. The central transparent area including a plurality of sides. The first busbar is in contact with the first transparent electrode layer adjacent to at least a portion of each of the plurality of sides of the central transparent area.