The present invention provides methods to sputter deposit films comprising alkali metal compounds. At least one target comprising one or more alkali metal compounds and at least one metallic component is sputtered to form one or more corresponding sputtered films. The at least one target has an atomic ratio of the alkali metal compound to the at least one metallic component in the range from 15:85 to 85:15. The sputtered film(s) incorporating such alkali metal compounds are incorporated into a precursor structure also comprising one or more chalcogenide precursor films. The precursor structure is heated in the presence of at least one chalcogen to form a chalcogenide semiconductor. The resultant chalcogenide semiconductor comprises up to 2 atomic percent of alkali metal content, wherein at least a major portion of the alkali metal content of the resultant chalcogenide semiconductor is derived from the sputtered film(s) incorporating the alkali metal compound(s). The chalcogenide semiconductors are useful in microelectronic devices, including solar cells.

A bonding apparatus includes a heat source, a first plate, a second plate, and an actuation mechanism. The first plate is coupled to the heat source. The first and second plates are thermally conductive and configured to cover an entire solar cell. The actuation mechanism moves the bonding apparatus between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first plate and the second plate contact opposite surfaces of the solar cell. The second plate is configured to dissipate heat such that the second plate has a lower temperature than the first plate when in the closed position. The first plate and the second plate apply a force to the solar cell, the force at a first end of the solar cell being different than at a second end of the solar cell when the bonding apparatus is in or moving to the closed position.

High efficiency dilute nitride bismide alloys and multijunction photovoltaic cells incorporating the high efficiency dilute nitride bismide alloys are disclosed. Bismuth-containing dilute nitride subcells exhibit a high efficiency across a broad range of irradiance energies, a high short circuit current density, and a high open circuit voltage.

A method for curing a portion of conductive paste disposed on a photovoltaic cell, the photovoltaic cell including a first face and a second face, the portion of conductive paste being disposed on one of the faces of the photovoltaic cell, the curing method including exposing the first face of the photovoltaic cell to a first electromagnetic radiation including at least one component between 300 nm and 700 nm.

This disclosure relates to a soldering system containing a soldering apparatus and a heating apparatus. The soldering apparatus includes a heating plate having a body defining a plurality of first air exits, each first air exit extending through the body of the heating plate and the heating plate being configured to supply hot air through the first air exits; a cover disposed on the heating plate, the cover and the heating plate defining a hot air chamber; a plurality of axially movable positioning shafts extending though the body of the heating plate, in which each shaft has a first end and a second end, the first end is in the hot air chamber, and the second end is outside the hot air chamber; and a conduit attached to the cover, the conduit being configured to supply hot air to the hot air chamber.

Disclosed herein are approaches to fabricating solar cells, solar cell strings and solar modules using roll-to-roll foil-based metallization approaches. Methods disclosed herein can comprise the steps of providing at least one solar cell wafer on a first roll unit and conveying a metal foil to the first roll unit. The metal foil can be coupled to the solar cell wafer on the first roll unit to produce a unified pairing of the metal foil and the solar cell wafer. We disclose solar energy collection devices and manufacturing methods thereof enabling reduction of manufacturing costs due to simplification of the manufacturing process by a high throughput foil metallization process.

A photovoltaic cell module includes a photovoltaic cell layer, conductive or non-conductive connection points between photovoltaic cells and interconnected busbars, a grid line bonding layer and a grid line supporting layer provided on surfaces of the photovoltaic cells. The grid line supporting layer adheres to the surfaces of the photovoltaic cells by a bonding effect of the grid line bonding layer. The grid line supporting layer is laminated on the interconnected busbars. A method of manufacturing the module includes: firstly, preliminarily fixing interconnected busbars on the surfaces of photovoltaic cells via conductive or non-conductive connection points; then covering the surfaces of the photovoltaic cells with a grid line supporting layer and a grid line bonding layer, applying pressure on the grid line supporting layer and the grid line bonding layer, and completely fixing the interconnected busbars to the surfaces of the photovoltaic cells by the grid line supporting layer.

In an example, a method includes providing a photovoltaic string comprising a plurality of from 2 to 45 strips, each of the plurality of strips being configured in a series arrangement with each other, each of the plurality of strips being coupled to another one of the plurality of strips using an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) material, detecting at least one defective strip in the photovoltaic string, applying thermal energy to the ECA material to release the ECA material from a pair of photovoltaic strips to remove the defective photovoltaic strip, removing any residual ECA material from one or more good photovoltaic strip, aligning the photovoltaic string without the damaged photovoltaic strip, and a replacement photovoltaic strip that replaces the defective photovoltaic strip, and curing a reapplied ECA material on the replacement photovoltaic strip to provide the photovoltaic string with the replacement photovoltaic strip.

Systems and methods for manufacturing solar panels are disclosed. Solar cells are placed on a conveyor that transports the cells from a start point to an end point. A laser scribing module scribes the cells at a predetermined depth. A paste dispensing module deposits a predetermined amount of conductive paste on the surface of the solar cells. A cleaving apparatus divides the cells into smaller strips. A shingling module creates a string of cells by overlapping the strips. A targeted annealing module cures the paste, and a layup module places the strings on a backsheet. A glass cover is then added to one side of the strings.

A method of manufacturing a solar cell module includes: placing a light reflection member across a gap between adjacent two solar cells set on a work table; and attaching the light reflection member to respective ends of the adjacent two solar cells, by thermocompression-bonding respective overlap regions of the light reflection member with the adjacent two solar cells using a compression bonding head that includes: a first thermocompression bonding portion and a second thermocompression bonding portion each having a contact surface that comes into contact with the light reflection member; and a non-thermocompression bonding portion interposed between the first thermocompression bonding portion and the second thermocompression bonding portion and not thermocompression-bonding the light reflection member.