A high efficiency configuration for a string of solar cells comprises series-connected solar cells arranged in an overlapping shingle pattern. Front and back surface metallization patterns may provide further increases in efficiency.

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.

Discussed is a solar cell including a semiconductor substrate, a conductive region disposed in the semiconductor substrate or over the semiconductor substrate, and an electrode electrically connected to the conductive region. The electrode includes a first electrode part and a second electrode part disposed over the first electrode part. The second electrode part includes a particle connection layer formed by connecting a plurality of particles including a first metal and a cover layer including a second metal different from the first metal and covering at least the outside surface of the particle connection layer.

A method of fabricating solar cell, solar laminate and/or solar module string is provided. The method may include: locating a metal foil over a plurality of semiconductor substrates; exposing the metal foil to laser beam over selected portions of the plurality of semiconductor substrates, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms a plurality conductive contact structures having of locally deposited metal portion electrically connecting the metal foil to the semiconductor substrates at the selected portions; and selectively removing portions of the metal foil, wherein remaining portions of the metal foil extend between at least two of the plurality of semiconductor substrates.

The present invention concerns a bifacial solar cell (1) comprising a front side (10) and a back side (20), said front and back sides (10, 20) having a respective outer layer (34) made of transparent conductive oxide, on which is placed a respective metallization grid (11, 21), each metallization grid (11, 21) comprising first collectors (111, 211) running parallel to each other in a horizontal direction (x) of said solar cell (1) and second collectors (112, 212) crossing said first collectors (111, 211), each second collector (112, 212) comprising two vertical elements (112a, 112b, 212a, 212b) and at least one horizontal element (112c, 212c) every one or two first collectors (111) or 3 or 6 first collectors (211) connecting said two vertical elements (112a, 112b, 212a, 212b), said solar cell module being characterized in that said metallization grids (11, 21) furtherly comprise at least one respective front or back area (113, 213), said front or back area (113, 213) comprising said at least one horizontal element (112c, 212c) and a portion of the underlying outer layer (34) made of transparent conductive oxide, so that a cell connector can be attached to said solar cell (1) by means of an electrically conductive adhesive deposited on said front or back area (113, 213) without needing a physical barrier for said electrically conductive adhesive. The present invention also concerns a solar cell module and a method of manufacturing thereof.

A solar cell contact arrangement, having a semiconductor body with a top and a bottom, wherein the semiconductor body has multiple solar cell stacks and includes a support substrate on the bottom, and each solar cell stack has at least two III-V subcells arranged on the support substrate and at least one through-contact extending from the top to the bottom of the semiconductor body with a continuous side wall, wherein the through-contact has a first edge region on the top and a second edge region on the bottom, and the first edge region has a first section and a second, metallic section, and the second edge region has a first section and a second section, wherein the respective second sections completely enclose the respective first sections, and an insulating layer.

According to one aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a monolithically isled solar cell is provided. The solar cell comprises a semiconductor layer having a light receiving frontside and a backside opposite the frontside and attached to an electrically insulating backplane. A trench isolation pattern partitions the semiconductor layer into electrically isolated isles on the electrically insulating backplane. A first metal layer having base and emitter electrodes is positioned on the semiconductor layer backside. A patterned second metal layer providing cell interconnection and connected to the first metal layer by via plugs is positioned on the backplane.

A solar cell includes a back electrode layer provided on a support substrate and including a first through hole, a light absorbing layer provided on the first through hole and the back electrode layer and including a second through hole, a front electrode layer provided on the second through hole and the light absorbing layer, and a first conductive layer provided on the front electrode layer. Furthermore, the first conductive layer is formed on at least a portion of the front electrode layer which corresponds to the second through hole.

Paste compositions, methods of making a paste composition, and methods of making a solar cell contact are disclosed. The paste composition can contain a nickel intermetallic compound such as nickel silicide, nickely boride or nickel phosphide, a glass frit, a metal additive and an organic vehicle system. The paste can be used for making a solar cell contact.

A solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells and includes first and second solar cells positioned adjacent to each other in a first direction, the solar cell module further comprises a connector for connecting hole terminals of the first solar cell to electron terminals of the second solar cell, the hole terminals being positioned on the first solar cell and being separated from each other and the electron terminals being positioned on the second solar cell and being separated from each other. The hole terminals and the electron terminals of each solar cell are positioned parallel to a first side of each solar cell, the connector is positioned parallel to a second side crossing the first side of each solar cell, and the connector is positioned on the same side of the first and second solar cells.