Tri-layer semiconductor stacks for patterning features on solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are described herein. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate. A semiconductor structure is disposed above the substrate. The semiconductor structure includes a P-type semiconductor layer disposed directly on a first semiconductor layer. A third semiconductor layer is disposed directly on the P-type semiconductor layer. An outermost edge of the third semiconductor layer is laterally recessed from an outermost edge of the first semiconductor layer by a width. An outermost edge of the P-type semiconductor layer is sloped from the outermost edge of the third semiconductor layer to the outermost edge of the third semiconductor layer. A conductive contact structure is electrically connected to the semiconductor structure.

Methods of fabricating emitter regions of solar cells using surface treatments, and the resulting solar cells, are described herein. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes treating a surface of a silicon substrate to form a lyophilic area between two lyophobic areas and depositing a liquid phase material containing a silicon material in the lyophilic area to form an emitter region.

A flexible and rollable back-contact solar cell module, wherein a length of it can be extended infinitely and the back-contact solar cell module includes a plurality of large cell blocks connected in series or in parallel. The large cell block includes a plurality of small cell strings connected in series or in parallel. The small cell string includes a plurality of small square cell pieces connected in series or in parallel. The series-connection or the parallel-connection between the large cell blocks, the small cell strings, or the small square cell pieces is achieved by welding a flexible interconnected bar in the horizontal or vertical direction. Electrodes of the small square cell pieces are all on a back side and the small square cell pieces are formed by cutting a back-contact solar cell. A protective layer is attached to a surface of a light-receiving side by using an adhesive layer.

A method for manufacturing a solar cell comprising forming a series of transparent electrode layer material films on electroconductive semiconductor layers on the reverse surface side of a substrate; forming metal electrode layers on the transparent electrode layer material films; forming insulation layers covering the entirety of the metal electrode layers except for a first non-insulation region, and insulation layers covering the entirety of the metal electrode layers excluding a second non-insulation region; and forming patterned transparent electrode layers and leaving the insulation layers using an etching technique in which the insulation layers are masks. In the insulation layer formation, the first non-insulation region positioned on a first straight line extending in a first direction is formed in the insulation layers, and the second non-insulation region positioned on a second straight line, different from the first straight line, extending in the first direction is formed in the insulation layers.

A method and apparatus for determining a presence of a microorganism in a sample is provided. The method includes storing electrophysiological and/or impedance signatures of a plurality of microorganisms in a memory of a processor. The method also includes obtaining a sample and generating an electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the sample. The electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the sample is compared with the electrophysiological and/or impedance signatures in the memory. A presence of one of the plurality of microorganisms in the sample is then identified based on a correlation between the electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the sample and the electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the one of the plurality of microorganisms. A method is also provided for determining a growth stage of a microorganism in a sample.

Injection molded, blow molded, and rotational molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. A method includes: placing an operable photovoltaic device at an inner-side of a mold cavity of a mold; performing injection molding or reaction injection molding or blow molding or rotational molding, of raw plastic materials or raw polymeric materials; and forming a single or singular, monolithic, unified or uniform, molded article that integrally incorporates and fixedly holds and tightly secures, therein or thereon, the operable photovoltaic device, directly and securely and tightly via the solidified molded plastic or the solidified molded polymer that are adjacent to it.

A back-contact solar cell having a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer in a first region on a back side of a semiconductor substrate, and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in a second region and the first region on the back side. In the first region, an intrinsic semiconductor layer and the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers are stacked successively on the back side. In the second region, the intrinsic semiconductor layer and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer are stacked on the back side. In a boundary region between the first and second regions, an insulating layer, and the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers, are stacked successively on the back side, with the intrinsic semiconductor layer disposed between the layers and the back side. The insulating layer is interposed between the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the first region and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in the second region.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solar cell and a solar cell module. The solar cell includes a first region and a second region, and further includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a tunneling layer covering the second surface; a first emitter disposed on part of the tunneling layer in the first region; and a second emitter disposed on part of the tunneling layer in the second region and on the first emitter, a conductivity type of the second emitter being different from a conductivity type of the first emitter. The solar cell further includes a first electrode disposed in the first region and configured to electrically connect with the first emitter by penetrating through the second emitter; and a second electrode disposed in the second region and configured to electrically connect with the second emitter.

Provided is a busbar-free interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cell and an IBC solar cell module. The IBC solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, finger electrode lines and conductive lines. The finger electrode lines include first finger electrode lines and second finger electrode lines that are alternately arranged on the semiconductor substrate. The conductive lines include first conductive lines and second conductive lines that are alternately arranged. The first conductive lines are connected to the first finger electrode lines and spaced apart from the second finger electrode lines. The second conductive lines are connected to the second finger electrode lines and spaced apart from the first finger electrode lines.

A solar cell includes polysilicon P-type and N-type doped regions on a backside of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. A trench structure separates the P-type doped region from the N-type doped region. Each of the P-type and N-type doped regions may be formed over a thin dielectric layer. The trench structure may include a textured surface for increased solar radiation collection. Among other advantages, the resulting structure increases efficiency by providing isolation between adjacent P-type and N-type doped regions, thereby preventing recombination in a space charge region where the doped regions would have touched.