A solar antenna array may comprise an array of carbon nanotube antennas that may capture and convert sunlight into electrical power. A method for constructing the solar antenna array from a glass top down to aluminum over a plastic bottom such that light passing through the glass top and/or reflected off the aluminum both may be captured by the antennas sandwiched between. Techniques for patterning the glass to further direct the light toward the antennas and techniques for continuous flow fabrication and testing are also described.

Dopant ink compositions and methods of fabricating solar cells there from are described. A dopant ink composition may include a cross-linkable matrix precursor, a bound dopant species, and a solvent. A method of fabricating a solar cell may include delivering a dopant ink composition to a region above a substrate. The dopant ink composition includes a cross-linkable matrix precursor, a bound dopant species, and a solvent. The method also includes baking the dopant ink composition to remove a substantial portion of the solvent of the dopant ink composition, curing the baked dopant ink composition to cross-link a substantial portion of the cross-linkable matrix precursor of the dopant ink composition, and driving dopants from the cured dopant ink composition toward the substrate.

A solar cell module and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The solar cell module includes a first solar cell and a second solar cell each including a plurality of first electrodes formed on a back surface of a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of second electrodes which are formed in parallel with the plurality of first electrodes on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, a first auxiliary electrode connected to the plurality of first electrodes, and a second auxiliary electrode connected to the plurality of second electrodes, and an interconnector for electrically connecting the first auxiliary electrode of the first solar cell to the second auxiliary electrode of the second solar cell.

A solar cell is discussed. The solar cell according to an embodiment includes a photoelectric conversion unit including a first conductive type region and a second conductive type region formed on the same side of the photoelectric conversion unit; and an electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion unit and including an adhesive layer formed on the photoelectric conversion unit and an electrode layer formed on the adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the photoelectric conversion unit and is less than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the electrode layer.

A solar cell is provided, including a substrate, a doped emitter layer, a composite anti-reflective layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode and a rear electric field layer, the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface is a light incident surface, the doped emitter layer includes a plurality of convexities disposed on the first surface, the composite anti-reflective layer is formed by combination of a plurality of membranous layers and disposed on the doped emitter layer, the first electrode is disposed on a side of the first surface, the second electrode and the third electrode are disposed on a side of the second surface, the second electrode is a bus electrode, the third electrode is a rear electrode, the rear electric field layer is disposed on the second surface and coupled electrically with the third electrode.

The present application provides effective and efficient structures and methods for the formation of solar cell base and emitter regions and passivation layers using laser processing. Laser absorbent passivation materials are formed on a solar cell substrate and patterned using laser ablation to form base and emitter regions. Laser damage to the solar cell substrate is removed using an etch.

The present invention relates to an inorganic reaction system used in the manufacture of electroconductive pastes. The inorganic reaction system comprises a lead containing matrix forming composition and a tellurium oxide additive. Preferably the lead containing matrix forming composition is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system, and the tellurium oxide additive is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system. The lead containing matrix forming composition may be a glass frit, and may comprise lead oxide. Another aspect of the present invention relates to an electroconductive paste composition that comprises metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system as previously disclosed, and an organic vehicle. Another aspect of the present invention relates to an organic vehicle that comprises one or more of a binder, a surfactant, a solvent, and a thixatropic agent. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a solar cell printed with an electroconductive paste composition as disclosed, as well as an assembled solar cell module. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of producing a solar cell.

A method for passing photovoltaic current between a subcell formed from a single crystal Group ll-VI semiconductor material and a subcell formed from a single crystal Group IV semiconductor material, includes the steps of forming a first subcell by an epitaxial growth process, the first subcell having a first upper surface; forming a tunnel heterojunction between the first subcell and the second subcell, and tunneling carriers formed by light incident on the first and second subcells through the tunnel heterojunction, thereby permitting a photoelectric series current to flow through the first and second subcells.

An adhesive having water vapour barrier properties, comprising an adhesive base composed of at least one reactive resin, at least one elastomer and optionally at least one tackifying resin, and optionally a solvent, is particularly suitable as a barrier adhesive when it comprises at least one multifunctional oligomeric alkoxysiloxane, said oligomeric alkoxysiloxane containing more than one polymerizable group and more than one alkoxy group.

A composition of matter, in particular a photovoltaic cell, comprising: at least one core semiconductor nanowire on a graphitic substrate, said at least one core nanowire having been grown epitaxially on said substrate wherein said nanowire comprises at least one group III-V compound or at least one group II-VI compound or at least one group IV element; a semiconductor shell surrounding said core nanowire, said shell comprising at least one group III-V compound or at least one group II-VI compound or at least one group IV element such that said core nanowire and said shell form a n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor respectively or vice versa; and an outer conducting coating surrounding said shell which forms an electrode contact.