The present invention relates to a thin film solar cell module (20) comprising a first solar cell (21a) and a second solar cell (21b) disposed on a substrate (1) and connected in series, wherein the first solar cell (21a) comprises a first bottom electrode layer (22a) disposed on the substrate, a first stack (27) disposed on the first bottom electrode layer (22a), and a first top electrode layer disposed on the first stack (27), wherein the first stack (27) is configured to generate electric current when the first stack (27) is illuminated, the second solar cell (21b) comprises a second bottom electrode layer (22b) disposed on the substrate, a second stack (28) disposed on the second bottom electrode layer (22b), and a second top electrode layer disposed on the second stack (28), wherein the second stack (28) is configured to generate electric current when the second stack (28) is illuminated, wherein the first solar cell (31a; 41a; 51a) further comprises a first by-pass diode (32a; 42a; 52a) electrically connected in parallel with the first stack (27); the first by-pass diode (32a; 42a, 52a) is disposed between the first bottom electrode layer (22a) and the first top electrode layer.

A photovoltaic cell may include a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer including a n-type doped region and a p-type doped region. The n-type doped region may be separated from the p-type doped region by an intrinsic region. The photovoltaic cell may include a front transparent electrode connected to the n-type doped region, and a rear electrode connected to the p-type doped region. The efficiency may be optimized for indoor lighting values by tuning the value of the H2/SiH4 ratio of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer.

One embodiment of the present invention can provide a system for fabrication of a photovoltaic structure. The system can include a physical vapor deposition tool configured to sequentially deposit a transparent conductive oxide layer and a metallic layer on an emitter layer formed in a first surface of a Si substrate, without requiring the Si substrate to be removed from the physical vapor deposition tool after depositing the transparent conductive oxide layer. The system can further include an electroplating tool configured to plate a metallic grid on the metallic layer and a thermal annealing tool configured to anneal the transparent conductive oxide layer.

A rear contact heterojunction solar cell and a fabricating method. The solar cell comprises a silicon substrate having a passivating layer and an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer. At a back side of the intrinsic amorphous silicon layer, an emitter layer and a base layer are provided. Interposed between these emitter and base layers is a separation layer comprising an electrically insulating material. This separation layer as well as the base layer and emitter layer may be generated by vapour deposition. Due to such processing, adjacent regions of the emitter layer and the separating layer and adjacent regions of the base layer and the separating layer partially laterally overlap in overlapping areas in such a way that at least a part of the separating layer is located closer to the substrate than an overlapping portion of the respective one of the emitter layer and the base layer.

A photovoltaic device and method include forming a plurality of pillar structures in a substrate, forming a first electrode layer on the pillar structures and forming a continuous photovoltaic stack including an N-type layer, a P-type layer and an intrinsic layer on the first electrode. A second electrode layer is deposited over the photovoltaic stack such that gaps or fissures occur in the second electrode layer between the pillar structures. The second electrode layer is wet etched to open up the gaps or fissures and reduce the second electrode layer to form a three-dimensional electrode of substantially uniform thickness over the photovoltaic stack.

One embodiment of the present invention can provide a system for fabrication of a photovoltaic structure. The system can include a physical vapor deposition tool configured to sequentially deposit a transparent conductive oxide layer and a metallic layer on an emitter layer formed in a first surface of a Si substrate, without requiring the Si substrate to be removed from the physical vapor deposition tool after depositing the transparent conductive oxide layer. The system can further include an electroplating tool configured to plate a metallic grid on the metallic layer and a thermal annealing tool configured to anneal the transparent conductive oxide layer.

After forming an absorber layer containing cracks over a back contact layer, a passivation layer is formed over a top surface of the absorber layer and interior surfaces of the cracks. The passivation layer is deposited in a manner such that that the cracks in the absorber layer are fully passivated by the passivation layer. An emitter layer is then formed over the passivation layer to pinch off upper portions of the cracks, leaving voids in lower portions of the cracks.

After forming an absorber layer containing cracks over a back contact layer, a passivation layer is formed over a top surface of the absorber layer and interior surfaces of the cracks. The passivation layer is deposited in a manner such that that the cracks in the absorber layer are fully passivated by the passivation layer. An emitter layer is then formed over the passivation layer to pinch off upper portions of the cracks, leaving voids in lower portions of the cracks.

An organic light emitting diode device can be formed by imprinting a material layer to form an array of non-planar features selected from protrusions and via cavities. The array of non-planar features can be imprinted by moving the material layer under a rolling press or under a rolling die that transfers a pattern thereupon. A layer stack including a transparent electrode layer, an organic light emitting material layer, and a backside electrode layer is formed over the array of non-planar features such that convex sidewalls of the organic light emitting material layer contact concave sidewalls of the backside electrode layer. The layer stack can be encapsulated with a passivation substrate. Additionally or alternatively, an array of convex lenses can be imprinted on a transparent material layer to decrease total internal reflection of an organic light emitting diode device.

After forming an absorber layer containing cracks over a back contact layer, a passivation layer is formed over a top surface of the absorber layer and interior surfaces of the cracks. The passivation layer is deposited in a manner such that that the cracks in the absorber layer are fully passivated by the passivation layer. An emitter layer is then formed over the passivation layer to pinch off upper portions of the cracks, leaving voids in lower portions of the cracks.