A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells conductively bonded to each other in a shingled manner to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module, reduce series resistance, and increase module efficiency.

Various processes can apply pressure and/or heat to a photovoltaic (PV) layer, including processes that integrate solar cells into different types of industrial glass such as an autoclave lamination process. The disclosure describes a planarization technique that can be used on the PV layer to eliminate point loads caused by such processes. In an aspect, a method for producing a component is described that includes disposing or placing a planarization material on a PV layer, modifying a physical form of the planarization material to provide a planar surface made of the planarization material on one side of the PV layer having surface irregularities, and forming a stack of layers (e.g., as part of an autoclave lamination process) for the component by disposing a first layer over the planar surface on the one side of the PV layer and a second layer over the other, opposite side of the PV layer.

A solar cell system and a flexible solar panel are disclosed herein. The solar cell system includes a glass housing, a set of rows of solar cells each defining a front side and a rear side and arranged within the glass housing. The solar cell system can also include a reflective element disposed in the glass housing and facing the rear side of the set of rows of solar cells and a first terminal coupled to a first end of the set of rows of solar cells, traversing through and sealed against the first end of the glass housing. The solar cell system can be configured with other solar cell systems into the flexible solar panel that is deployable in a wide range of potential applications.

A solar cell comprising a semiconductor substrate, first semiconductor layers, second semiconductor layers, a band-like first base electrode stacked on the first semiconductor layer, a band-like second base electrode stacked on the second semiconductor layer, a first electrode insulation stacked on the first base electrodes, a second electrode insulation stacked on the second base electrodes, an intermediate insulation stacked on a region of the first semiconductor layer in which the first base electrode is not stacked, and a region of the second semiconductor layer in which the second base electrode is not stacked, a first current collector stacked to span the second electrode insulation and the intermediate insulation, and a second current collector stacked to span the first electrode insulation and the intermediate insulation.

A solar cell structure is disclosed that includes a first metal layer, formed over predefined portions of a sun-exposed major surface of a semiconductor structure, that form electrical gridlines of the solar cell; a network of carbon nanotubes formed over the first metal layer; and a second metal layer formed onto the network of carbon nanotubes, wherein the second metal layer infiltrates the network of carbon nanotubes to connect with the first metal layer to form a first metal matrix composite comprising a metal matrix and a carbon nanotube reinforcement, wherein the second metal layer is an electrically conductive layer in which the carbon nanotube reinforcement is embedded in and bonded to the metal matrix, and the first metal matrix composite provides enhanced mechanical support as well as enhanced or equal electrical conductivity for the electrical contacts against applied mechanical stressors to the electrical contacts.

A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells conductively bonded to each other in a shingled manner to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module, reduce series resistance, and increase module efficiency.

A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein the upper first solar subcell covers less than the entire upper surface of the second solar subcell, leaving an exposed portion of the second solar subcell around the periphery of the multijunction solar sell that lies in the path of the incoming light beam.

The present invention relates to a solar cell having an edge collecting electrode and a solar cell module comprising the same, the solar cell being capable of preventing a cell crack phenomenon caused by an interconnector and improving an adhesive characteristic of the interconnector by dividing a planar area of the solar cell into a main area and an edge area and positioning the outermost contact point of the interconnector at a boundary between the main area and the edge area, and being capable of improving carrier collecting efficiency by arranging, in the edge area, the edge collecting electrode and the branched electrode which are physically separated from the interconnector.

A solar cell module comprising a plurality of solar cells mounted on a flexible support, the support comprising a conductive layer on the top surface thereof divided into two electrically isolated portions—a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. Each solar cell comprises a front surface, a rear surface, and a first contact on the rear surface and a second contact on the front surface. Each one of the plurality of solar cells is placed on the first conductive portion with the first contact electrically connected to the first conductive portion so that the solar cells are connected through the first conductive portion. A second contact of each solar cell is then connected to the second conductive portion by a respective interconnect.

A spacer for a multi-pane insulating glazing unit includes a spacer body made from a first material with first and second hollow desiccant chambers extending in a longitudinal direction and a longitudinal groove between the first and second chambers open to a first side of the spacer for holding an intermediate pane of the glazing unit, the groove being delimited in a width direction by first and second side walls and having a bottom wall, and the spacer body having a gas barrier on a second side opposite the first side. The first side wall and/or the second side wall and/or the bottom wall of the groove include at least two electrically conductive portions electrically isolated from each other and configured to make electrical contact with at least one electrical contact of the intermediate pane.