Abstract: A photovoltaic module and its manufacturing method. The module includes a sintered silicon support including several integrated photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: Fabrication methods and structures relating to backplanes for back contact solar cells that provide for solar cell substrate reinforcement and electrical interconnects are described. The method comprises depositing an interdigitated pattern of base electrodes and emitter electrodes on a backside surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming electrically conductive emitter plugs and base plugs on the interdigitated pattern, and attaching a backplane having a second interdigitated pattern of base electrodes and emitter electrodes at the conductive emitter and base plugs to form electrical interconnects.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an arrangement of photovoltaic modules configured for transportation. The arrangement includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module including a frame. A plurality of individual male alignment features and a plurality of individual female alignment features are included on each frame. Adjacent photovoltaic modules are interlocked by multiple individual male alignment features on a first module of the adjacent photovoltaic modules fitting into and being surrounded by corresponding individual female alignment features on a second module of the adjacent photovoltaic modules. Other embodiments, features and aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a transparent substrate, especially made of glass, which is provided with an electrode, especially for a solar cell, comprising a conductive layer based on molybdenum Mo with a thickness of at most 500 nm, especially at most 400 nm or at most 300 nm or at most 200 nm.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) module. In each embodiment of the present invention, the CPV module includes a light guide having a molded, cast or machined hollow funnel with a highly reflective internal surface for use in guiding focused solar rays to the active, front surface of the receiver die of the CPV module.

Abstract: A method, in certain embodiments, includes providing a metal alloy, annealing the metal alloy, and contacting the metal alloy with vapors of selenium, or sulfur, or a combination thereof. The metal alloy having a uniform first bulk composition and a first surface composition on annealing provides an annealed metal alloy having a non uniform second bulk composition and a second surface composition which on being contacted vapors of selenium, or sulfur, or a combination thereof, produces a selenized or a sulfurized metal alloy. Further the metal alloy may have a layer formed in situ from a low melting point metal within the alloy via diffusion rather than sequential deposition and co-evaporation.

Abstract: A process of forming an array of monolithically integrated thin film photovoltaic cells from a stack of thin film layers formed on an insulating substrate includes forming at least one cell isolation scribe in the stack of thin film layers. A second electrical contact layer isolation scribe is formed for each cell isolation scribe adjacent to a respective cell isolation scribe. A via scribe is formed in the stack of thin film layers between each cell isolation scribe and its respective second electrical contact layer isolation scribe. Insulating ink is disposed in each cell isolation scribe, and conductive ink is disposed in each via scribe to form a via. Conductive ink is also disposed along the top surface of the stack of thin film layers to form at least one conductive grid.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells, including silicon solar cells, and methods and compositions for making such photovoltaic cells are provided. A silicon substrate having p-type silicon base and an n-type silicon layer is provided with a silicon nitride layer, an exchange metal in contact with the silicon nitride layer, and a non-exchange metal in contact with the exchange metal. This assembly is fired to form a metal silicide contact on the silicon substrate, and a conductive metal electrode in contact with the metal silicide contact. The exchange metal is from nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and combinations thereof, and the non-exchange metal is from silver, copper, tin, bismuth, lead, antimony, arsenic, indium, zinc, germanium, gold, cadmium, beryllium, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a tunneling junction based solar cell. The solar cell includes a base layer; a quantum-tunneling-barrier (QTB) layer situated adjacent to the base layer; an emitter; a surface field layer; a front-side electrode; and a back-side electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a solar cell apparatus including a molybdenum (Mo) contact layer and an annealed absorber layer including zinc and sulfur directly adjacent to the Mo contact layer. The apparatus has no molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) layer located between the Mo contact layer and the annealed absorber layer. The apparatus further includes a buffer layer adjacent to the annealed absorber layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for depositing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer on a substrate, in which contaminations of the layers of the layer system is reduced through the diffusion of material from the substrate, and whose layer properties in respect to coupling and transmission of light are optimized. For that purpose, a barrier layer, a seed layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer are directly successively deposited on the substrate. Also, a thin-film solar cell is described which comprises such a transparent conductive oxide layer.

Abstract: An AMTEC power system including a housing that defines a cold chamber and a hot chamber, an insulative material disposed between the cold chamber and the hot chamber, the insulative material including carbon foam, and at least one AMTEC cell received in the housing, the AMTEC cell extending into both the cold chamber and the hot chamber.

Abstract: System, methods and apparatus for coupling photovoltaic arrays are disclosed. The apparatus may include a first input adapted to couple to a neutral line of a first photovoltaic array; a second input adapted to couple to a neutral line of a second photovoltaic array; a contactor configured to switchably couple the neutral line of a first photovoltaic array to the a neutral line of a second photovoltaic array, the contactor being controllable by an electric control signal; and a control input adapted to couple the switch to a remotely located controller so as to enable the controller to control the first switch by sending the electric control signal.

Abstract: A thin film solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are discussed. The method of manufacturing the thin film solar cell includes forming a masking jig in a first region of a substrate, forming a first electrode in a second region of the substrate, forming a photoelectric conversion unit on the first electrode formed in the second region of the substrate to produce electricity using light incident on the photoelectric conversion unit, and forming a second electrode on the photoelectric conversion unit formed in the second region of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell ensuring high photoelectric conversion efficiency. The dye-sensitized solar cell comprises a photoelectrode and a counter electrode, which are oppositely disposed with an electrolyte layer interposed therebetween, wherein: (1) the photoelectrode is structured such that a semiconductor layer containing a dye sensitizer is formed on a titanium or titanium alloy substrate having an opening structure, (2) the photoelectrode comprises a light condenser that is disposed on the titanium or titanium alloy substrate.

Abstract: A solar cell is discussed. The solar cell includes a substrate having a first conductivity type and made of a crystalline semiconductor; an emitter region having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, and forming a p-n junction with the substrate; a surface field region having the first conductivity type and being separated from the emitter region; a first electrode connected to the emitter region; and a second electrode connected to the surface field region, wherein at least one of the emitter region and the surface field region includes a plurality of semiconductor portions, and at least one of the plurality of semiconductor portion is a crystalline semiconductor portion.

Abstract: An adjustable solar power generation apparatus includes a solar power generation unit, a base, and a supporting bar supporting the base. The base accommodates the solar power generation unit. The supporting bar supports the base. The solar power generation unit includes a fixed lens unit and a solar cell. The fixed lens unit includes a converging lens to converge sunlight. The solar cell is located in the fixed lens unit, and is capable of moving toward or away from the converging lens to adjust the light intensity received by the solar cell.

Abstract: A system may include an optical element including a surface defining a recess, conductive material disposed within the recess, and a solder mask disposed over a portion of the conductive material. The solder mask may define an aperture through which light from the optical element may pass. Some aspects provide creation of an optical element including a surface defining a recess, deposition of conductive material on the surface such that a portion of the deposited conductive material is disposed within the recess, and substantial planarization of the surface to expose the portion of the conductive material disposed within the recess.

Abstract: A photoacceptive layer having a core-shell structure and a solar cell using the same are provided. More specifically, a photoacceptive layer including a metal oxide of a core-shell structure which can improve photoconversion efficiency by improving a electron migration path, and a solar cell using the same are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of a serial circuit of solar cells with integrated semiconductor bodies, a serial circuit produced thus and photovoltaic modules, comprising at last one serial circuit. The invention is characterized in that conducting bodies (20) and semiconducting bodies (30) are applied to an insulating support layer, according to a pattern, whereby said pattern provides at least one dividing line (21) of conducting bodies. The regions adjacent to the conducting bodies are provided with spherical or particle-shaped semiconducting bodies (30). Parts of the semiconductor bodies are removed and the support layer coated on the side with a back contact layer (50). The back contact layer of a semiconducting body is thus exposed, for example, and brought into contact with the back contact layer (50) of the solar cell. The other side of the support layer (10) is provided with a front contact layer.