Described herein are methods of fabricating solar cells. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming an amorphous dielectric layer on the back surface of a substrate opposite a light-receiving surface of the substrate. The method also includes forming a microcrystalline silicon layer on the amorphous dielectric layer by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The method also includes forming an amorphous silicon layer on the microcrystalline silicon layer by PECVD. The method also includes annealing the microcrystalline silicon layer and the amorphous silicon layer to form a homogeneous polycrystalline silicon layer from the microcrystalline silicon layer and the amorphous silicon layer. The method also includes forming an emitter region from the homogeneous polycrystalline silicon layer.

Disclosed is a method for attaching an interconnector of a solar cell panel, including moving the interconnector, unwound from a winding roll, in a processing direction, and attaching the interconnector to a solar cell. In the moving, the interconnector, which is wound around the winding roll, is unwound so as to pass through one end of the winding roll in a longitudinal direction.

A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into an electric current includes a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible photovoltaic submodules monolithically integrated onto a common flexible substrate. Each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible thin-film photovoltaic cells monolithically integrated onto the flexible substrate. A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into an electric current includes a backplane layer for supporting the photovoltaic module. A first pottant layer is disposed on the backplane layer, and a photovoltaic submodule assembly is disposed on the first pottant layer. The photovoltaic submodule assembly has at least one photovoltaic submodule, where each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of thin-film photovoltaic cells. A second pottant layer is disposed on the photovoltaic submodule assembly, and a upper laminate layer disposed on the second pottant layer.

The present disclosure provides a method for forming a contact for a photovoltaic device and a photovoltaic device manufactured according to the method. The method comprises the steps of: depositing a polymeric layer onto a surface of the photovoltaic device; exposing a region of the polymeric layer to laser light; developing the polymeric layer to create at least one opening in the polymeric layer for accessing a respective portion of the surface; depositing a conductive material into the at least one opening of the polymeric layer in a manner such that the conductive material is in electrical contact with the respective portion of the surface; and removing at least a portion of the remaining developed polymeric layer from the surface.

A photovoltaic panel (10) comprising a back plate (12), a front sheet (20) and a photovoltaic cell (30) disposed between the back plate (12) and the front sheet (20), wherein the photovoltaic panel (10) comprises a protective element (22, 24) which extends along an edge of the front sheet (20) without extending beyond an uppermost surface of the front sheet (20).

A light-absorbing or light-emitting solar cell assembly comprises an electrical insulator disposed on an electrically conductive substrate and that is provided with a metallized surface and at least one solar cell connected to the electrically conductive substrate, wherein the solar cell includes refractive secondary optics and is disposed in a recess in the insulator. The solar cell is connected to the substrate by the side orientated towards the substrate via an electrically conductive connection and the recess is dimensioned such that an interspace is produced laterally between the solar cell and the electrical insulator, the interspace being filled with a coupling medium and the solar cell being connected to the metallized surface by at least one electrical contact.

A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into electricity includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a wiring harness, and a connection subsystem. The plurality of photovoltaic cells are electrically interconnected to form a positive node for supplying current to a load and a negative node for receiving current from the load. The wiring harness includes a plurality of flexible electrical conductors, each electrical conductor being electrically isolated within the wiring harness. The connection subsystem is operable to selectively connect the positive node to one of the electrical conductors of the wiring harness. A plurality of flexible photovoltaic modules may be connected to form a photovoltaic array.

A self-powered electronic system comprises a first chip (401) of single-crystalline semiconductor embedded in a second chip (302) of single-crystalline semiconductor shaped as a container bordered by ridges. The assembled chips are nested and form an electronic device assembled, in turn, in a slab of weakly p-doped low-grade silicon shaped as a container (330) bordered by ridges (331). The flat side (335) of the slab includes a heavily n-doped region (314) forming a pn-junction (315) with the p-type bulk. A metal-filled deep silicon via (350) through the p-type ridge (331) connects the n-region with the terminal (322) on the ridge surface as cathode of the photovoltaic cell with the p-region as anode. The voltage across the pn-junction serves as power source of the device.

A versatile silicone resin reflective substrate which exhibits high reflectance of high luminance light from an LED light source over a wide wavelength from short wavelengths of approximately 340-500 nm, which include wavelengths from 380-400 nm near lower limit of the visible region, to longer wavelength in the infra-red region. The silicone resin reflective substrate has a reflective layer which contains a white inorganic filler powder dispersed in a three-dimensional cross linked silicone resin, the inorganic filler powder having a high reflective index than the silicone resin. The reflective layer is formed on a support body as a film, a solid, or a sheet. The silicone resin reflective substrate can be easily formed as a wiring substrate, a packaging case or the like, and can be manufactured at low cost and a high rate of production.

A solar panel module is provided having a plurality of solar panels disposed in juxtaposed relation. Each of the solar panels has a positive ribbon at one side of said solar panel and a negative ribbon at the other side opposite to said one side. Two adjacent ribbons of two adjacent solar panels are both positive ribbons or both negative ribbons.