Tandem solar cell configurations are provided where at least one of the cells is a metal chalcogenide cell. A four-terminal tandem solar cell configuration has two electrically independent solar cells stacked on each other. A two-terminal solar cell configuration has two electrically coupled solar cells (same current through both cells) stacked on each other. Carrier selective contacts can be used to make contact to the metal chalcogenide cell (s) to alleviate the troublesome Fermi level pinning issue. Carrier-selective contacts can also remove the need to provide doping of the metal chalcogenide. Doping of the metal chalcogenide can be provided by charge transfer. These two ideas can be practiced independently or together in any combination.

Tandem solar cell configurations are provided where at least one of the cells is a metal chalcogenide cell. A four-terminal tandem solar cell configuration has two electrically independent solar cells stacked on each other. A two-terminal solar cell configuration has two electrically coupled solar cells (same current through both cells) stacked on each other. Carrier selective contacts can be used to make contact to the metal chalcogenide cell (s) to alleviate the troublesome Fermi level pinning issue. Carrier-selective contacts can also remove the need to provide doping of the metal chalcogenide. Doping of the metal chalcogenide can be provided by charge transfer. These two ideas can be practiced independently or together in any combination.

A photoelectric conversion element includes: a first photoelectric conversion layer including: a bottom electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer; and a top electrode; and a second photoelectric conversion part including: a bottom electrode; a photoelectric conversion part; and a top electrode. A conductive layer is formed on the bottom electrode. The top electrode and the bottom electrode are electrically connected by a conductive portion and the conductive layer. The conductive portion is formed of a part of the top electrode filled in a first groove that makes a surface of the conductive layer exposed and separates a photoelectric conversion layer and a photoelectric conversion layer from each other. The top electrodes are physically separated by a second groove provided to make a step surface of a stepped portion provided in the photoelectric conversion layer exposed and have a bottom surface thereof overlap the surface of the conductive layer.

A photoelectric conversion element includes: a first photoelectric conversion layer including: a bottom electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer; and a top electrode; and a second photoelectric conversion part including: a bottom electrode; a photoelectric conversion part; and a top electrode. A conductive layer is formed on the bottom electrode. The top electrode and the bottom electrode are electrically connected by a conductive portion and the conductive layer. The conductive portion is formed of a part of the top electrode filled in a first groove that makes a surface of the conductive layer exposed and separates a photoelectric conversion layer and a photoelectric conversion layer from each other. The top electrodes are physically separated by a second groove provided to make a step surface of a stepped portion provided in the photoelectric conversion layer exposed and have a bottom surface thereof overlap the surface of the conductive layer.

A photovoltaic device is described, the device comprising a transparent conducting electrode layer; a back contact layer comprising at least one MXene material; and an active layer, comprising a photovoltaic active material, disposed between the transparent conducting electrode layer and the back contact layer. Also described is a method of producing a photovoltaic device, the method comprising the steps of providing substrate, depositing a transparent conducting electrode over the substrate; depositing an active layer comprising a photovoltaic material over the transparent conducting electrode; and depositing an MXene layer material over the active layer. A method of generating electricity using the disclosed device is also described.

A photovoltaic device is described, the device comprising a transparent conducting electrode layer; a back contact layer comprising at least one MXene material; and an active layer, comprising a photovoltaic active material, disposed between the transparent conducting electrode layer and the back contact layer. Also described is a method of producing a photovoltaic device, the method comprising the steps of providing substrate, depositing a transparent conducting electrode over the substrate; depositing an active layer comprising a photovoltaic material over the transparent conducting electrode; and depositing an MXene layer material over the active layer. A method of generating electricity using the disclosed device is also described.

To provide a cover glass for a solar cell module which can sufficiently maintain the power generation efficiency of a solar cell module, even when a design is imparted to the entire surface of the cover glass so as to make solar cells be invisible from the outside, and a solar cell module. To provide a cover glass 14 to be bonded on light-receiving surfaces 16A and 16B of solar cells 16 via an encapsulant material 18, which has a visible transmittance of from 0% to 60% and an average infrared transmittance of from 20% to 100%, which is a value calculated by simply averaging transmittances at 5 nm intervals in an infrared region at a wavelength of from 780 nm to 1,500 nm.

To provide a cover glass for a solar cell module which can sufficiently maintain the power generation efficiency of a solar cell module, even when a design is imparted to the entire surface of the cover glass so as to make solar cells be invisible from the outside, and a solar cell module. To provide a cover glass 14 to be bonded on light-receiving surfaces 16A and 16B of solar cells 16 via an encapsulant material 18, which has a visible transmittance of from 0% to 60% and an average infrared transmittance of from 20% to 100%, which is a value calculated by simply averaging transmittances at 5 nm intervals in an infrared region at a wavelength of from 780 nm to 1,500 nm.

A photoelectric conversion device includes: a substrate; a first photoelectric conversion element including a first substrate electrode, a first photoelectric conversion layer, and a first counter electrode; a second photoelectric conversion element including a second substrate electrode, a second photoelectric conversion layer, and a second counter electrode; and a connection including a groove, a conductive portion and a conductive layer, the conductive portion being provided in the groove and including a part of the first counter electrode, and the conductive portion and the conductive layer electrically connecting the first counter electrode and the second substrate electrode. The conductive layer overlaps the first counter electrode on an edge of the groove, and a total thickness of the conductive portion and the conductive layer is larger than a thickness of the first counter electrode.

A photoelectric conversion device includes: a substrate; a first photoelectric conversion element including a first substrate electrode, a first photoelectric conversion layer, and a first counter electrode; a second photoelectric conversion element including a second substrate electrode, a second photoelectric conversion layer, and a second counter electrode; and a connection including a groove, a conductive portion and a conductive layer, the conductive portion being provided in the groove and including a part of the first counter electrode, and the conductive portion and the conductive layer electrically connecting the first counter electrode and the second substrate electrode. The conductive layer overlaps the first counter electrode on an edge of the groove, and a total thickness of the conductive portion and the conductive layer is larger than a thickness of the first counter electrode.