The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing thin, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing PV modules having masked or non-shiny interconnects. The method involves a step of applying a masking material over interconnects that are used for electrically connecting PV cells associated with the PV module. The masking material is in form or a strip or ribbon or paste adapted to be attached or applied over the interconnects, which saves the material and also restricts shining of the interconnects. Further, a clear glass superstrate is attached on top of the masked PV cells, and another glass substrate or polymer backsheet is attached to bottom of the masked PV cells. The masking material used is a chemical or radiation stable material, same as the material used for manufacturing the PV module, which restricts deterioration due to chemical reactions or UV light exposure.

Photovoltaic (PV) cell structures are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a PV cell includes an emitter layer, a base layer adjacent to the emitter layer, and a back surface field (BSF) layer adjacent to the base layer. The BSF layer includes a first layer, and a second layer adjacent to the first layer. The first layer includes a first material and the second layer includes a second material different than the first material.

A solar cell including a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type an emitter region, having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, on a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate an emitter electrode which is in contact with the emitter region a base region having the first conductivity type a base electrode which is in contact with the base region and an insulator film for preventing an electrical short-circuit between the emitter region and the base region, wherein the insulator film is made of a polyimide, and the insulator film has a C.sub.6H.sub.11O.sub.2 detection count number of 100 or less when the insulator film is irradiated with Bi.sub.5.sup.++ ions with an acceleration voltage of 30 kV and an ion current of 0.2 pA by a TOF-SIMS method. The solar cell can have excellent weather resistance and high photoelectric conversion characteristics.

A method for thermally activating a passivation layer disposed on a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell includes a first face, a second face opposite to the first face, and side surfaces connecting the first and second faces. The passivation layer covers at least one of the side surfaces of the photovoltaic cell. The method includes exposing the first face to electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radiation source. The electromagnetic radiation is applied to the first face along a line. The line sweeps at least part of the first face and is oriented relative to the first face so as to provide an overheating zone encompassing at least part of the passivation layer.

An apparatus is disclosed for transferring a pattern of a composition containing particles of an electrically conductive material and a thermally activated adhesive from a surface of a flexible web to a surface of a substrate. The apparatus comprises: respective drive mechanisms for advancing the web and the substrate to a nip through which the web and the substrate pass at the same time and where a pressure roller acts to press the surfaces of the web and the substrate against one another, a heating station for heating at least one of the web and the substrate prior to, or during, passage through the nip, to a temperature at which the adhesive in the composition is activated, a cooling station for cooling the web after passage through the nip, and a separating device for peeling the web away from the substrate after passage through the cooling station, to leave the pattern of composition adhered to the surface of the substrate.

A solar cell is provided with: a semiconductor substrate having a light-receiving surface and a non-light-receiving surface; a PN junction section formed on the semiconductor substrate; a passivation layer formed on the light-receiving surface and/or the non-light-receiving surface; and power extraction electrodes formed on the light-receiving surface and the non-light-receiving surface. The solar cell is characterized in that the passivation layer includes an aluminum oxide film having a thickness of 40 nm or less. As a result of forming a aluminum oxide film having a predetermined thickness on the surface of the substrate, it is possible to achieve excellent passivation performance and excellent electrical contact between silicon and the electrode by merely firing the conductive paste, which is conventional technology. Furthermore, an annealing step, which has been necessary to achieve the passivation effects of the aluminum oxide film in the past, can be eliminated, thus dramatically reducing costs.

A bifacial solar cell includes a silicon substrate; an emitter layer; a plurality of first electrodes locally on the emitter layer; a first aluminum oxide layer on the emitter layer; a first silicon oxide layer between the first aluminum oxide layer and the emitter layer; a first anti-reflection layer on the first aluminum oxide layer; a back surface field layer on the silicon substrate; a second aluminum oxide layer on the silicon substrate; a second silicon oxide layer between the second aluminum oxide layer and the silicon substrate; a second anti-reflection layer on the second aluminum oxide layer; and a plurality of second electrodes respectively on the back surface field layers through the second anti-reflection layer, the second aluminum oxide layer and the second silicon oxide layer.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a solar cell including: preparing a semiconductor silicon substrate which has an electrode, which is formed by baking an electrode precursor containing Ag powder on at least one main surface, has a PN junction, and is less than 100° C.; and performing an annealing treatment to the semiconductor silicon substrate at 100° C. or more and 450° C. or less. Consequently, there is provided the method for manufacturing a solar cell which suppresses a degradation phenomenon that an output of the solar cell is lowered when the solar cell is left as it stands at a room temperature in the atmosphere.

Disclosed are a solar cell including an upper cell includes an upper passivation layer disposed on an upper surface of a functional layer, a transparent electrode disposed on an upper surface of the upper passivation layer, an upper first charge transport layer disposed on an upper surface of the transparent electrode, an upper electrode disposed on the upper first of the transparent electrode to be adjacent to the upper surface charge transport layer, an upper second charge transport layer disposed on the upper surface of the functional layer to be spaced apart from the upper passivation layer, the transparent electrode, the upper first charge transport layer, and the upper electrode, and an upper absorption layer disposed on the upper passivation layer, the transparent electrode, the upper first charge transport layer, and the upper second charge transport layer.

A High Energy Beam Processing (HEBP) system provides feedback signal monitoring and feedback control for the improvement of process repeatability and three-dimensional (3D) printed part quality. Signals reflecting process parameters and the quality of the fabricated parts are analyzed by monitoring feedback signals from artifact sources with a process controller which adjusts process parameters. In this manner, fabricated parts are produced more accurately and consistently from powder feedstock by compensating for process variation in response to feedback signals.