Abstract: A multijunction solar cell which includes: an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said upper first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and having a third band gap smaller than said second band gap; a graded interlayer adjacent to said third solar subcell, said graded interlayer having a fourth band gap greater than said third band gap; and a lower fourth solar subcell adjacent to said graded interlayer, said lower fourth solar subcell having a fifth band gap smaller than said third band gap such that said lower fourth solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said third solar subcell.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell which includes: an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said upper first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and having a third band gap smaller than said second band gap; a graded interlayer adjacent to said third solar subcell, said graded interlayer having a fourth band gap greater than said third band gap; and at least a fourth solar subcell adjacent to said graded interlayer, said fourth solar subcell having a fifth band gap smaller than said third band gap such that said lower fourth solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said third solar subcell.

Abstract: A four junction solar cell having an upper first solar subcell composed of a semiconductor material having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said first solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap and being lattice matched with the upper first solar subcell; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a third band gap smaller than the second band gap and being lattice matched with the second solar subcell; and a fourth solar subcell adjacent to said third solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a fourth band gap smaller than the third band gap; wherein the fourth subcell has a direct bandgap of greater than 0.75 eV.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell assembly which includes a first semiconductor body including: an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said upper first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and having a third band gap smaller than said second band gap; a graded interlayer adjacent to said third solar subcell, said graded interlayer having a fourth band gap greater than said third band gap; and a lower fourth solar subcell adjacent to said graded interlayer, said lower fourth solar subcell having a fifth band gap smaller than said third band gap such that said lower fourth solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said third solar subcell, and a second semiconductor body adjacent to and aligned with the first semiconductor body so that light passes through the first semiconductor body into the second semiconductor body.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of fabricating a multijunction solar cell panel in which one or more of the steps are performed using an automated process. In some embodiments, the automated process uses machine vision.

Abstract: Solar cells can be obtained by dividing a substantially circular solar cell wafer into portions featuring straight and arcuate edges, which are then combined to form solar cell arrays. The solar cells can be arranged in different ways, for example, with straight edges abutting against straight edges of adjacent solar cells, or with the solar cells in a row having at least one straight edge extending at an angle of between 50 and 70 degrees the direction of the row.

Abstract: A solar assembly or module comprising a plurality of solar cells and a support, the support comprising a conductive layer or back plane on each planar side. Each one of the plurality of solar cells is placed on the first conductive portion with the first contact electrically connected to the first conductive portion so that the solar cells are connected in parallel through the first conductive portion. A second contact of each solar cell can be connected to the second conductive portion so that the first and second conductive portions form terminals of opposite conductivity type. The modules can be interconnected to form a string or an electrical series connection of discrete modules by overlapping and bonding the first terminal of a first module with the second terminal of a second module.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly comprising a plurality of solar cells, each solar cell of the plurality of solar cells being shaped as a portion of a circle, the portion having at least one curved edge having a shape of the arc of the circumference of said circle and at least one straight edge, the portion having a surface area corresponding to not more than 50% of the surface area of the circle. This makes it possible to make efficient use of the material of the wafer from which the solar cells are produced by reducing waste, while arrangement of the solar cells into rectangular unit cells enables construction of substantially rectangular solar cell arrays and assemblies that have their surface area covered substantially by solar cells with little area unoccupied by solar cells.

Abstract: Multijunction solar cells having at least four subcells are disclosed, in which at least one of the subcells comprises a base layer formed of an alloy of one or more elements from group III on the periodic table, nitrogen, arsenic, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi, and each of the subcells is substantially lattice matched. Methods of manufacturing solar cells and photovoltaic systems comprising at least one of the multijunction solar cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly or module comprising a plurality of solar cells mounted on a support, the support comprising a plurality of conductive vias extending from the top surface to the rear surface of the support. Each one of the plurality of solar cells is placed on the top surface with the first contact of a first polarity of the solar cell electrically connected to the first conductive via. A second contact of a second polarity of each solar cell can be connected to a second conductive via so that the first and second conductive portions form terminals of opposite conductivity type. The solar cells on the module can be interconnected to form a string or an electrical series and/or parallel connection by suitably interconnecting the terminal pads of the vias on the back side of the module.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell which includes: an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said upper first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and having a third band gap smaller than said second band gap; a graded interlayer adjacent to said third solar subcell, said graded interlayer having a fourth band gap greater than said third band gap; and a lower fourth solar subcell adjacent to said graded interlayer, said lower fourth solar subcell having a fifth band gap smaller than said third band gap such that said lower fourth solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said third solar subcell.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly comprising a plurality of solar cells and a support, the support comprising a conductive layer. The conductive layer is divided into a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. Each solar cell of the plurality of solar cells comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a first contact in correspondence with the rear surface. Each one of the plurality of solar cells is placed on the first conductive portion with the first contact electrically connected to the first conductive portion so that the solar cells are connected in parallel through the first conductive portion. A second contact of each solar cell can be connected to the second conductive portion. The two conductive portions serve as bus bars of the solar cell assembly.

Abstract: A solar cell module and method for fabricating the same are provided. The solar cell module comprises: an array of solar cells, each of the solar cells having an area of about 0.01 mm2 to about 9 cm2; interconnection component(s) for electrically connecting at least a part of the solar cells; and a support for supporting the solar cells and the interconnection components thereon.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides multi-junction solar cell structures and fabrication methods thereof that improve electrical testing capability and reduce chip failure rates. In the present invention a special masking pattern is used in the layout such that all or some of the epitaxial layers are etched away in the corner areas of each solar cell. Consequently, the semiconductor substrate or one or more of the interconnections between junctions become accessible from the top (the side facing the sun) to make electrical connections.

Abstract: A method of fabricating both a multijunction solar cell and an inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cell in a single process using a MOCVD reactor by forming a first multijunction solar cell on a semiconductor substrate; forming a release layer over the first solar cell; forming an inverted metamorphic second solar cell over the release layer; and etching the release layer so as to separate the multijunction first solar cell and the inverted metamorphic second solar cell.

Abstract: A method of fabricating both a multijunction solar cell and an inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cell in a single process using a MOCVD reactor by forming a first multijunction solar cell on a semiconductor substrate; forming a release layer over the first solar cell; forming an inverted metamorphic second solar cell over the release layer; and etching the release layer so as to separate the multijunction first solar cell and the inverted metamorphic second solar cell.

Abstract: Multijunction solar cells having at least four subcells are disclosed, in which at least one of the subcells comprises a base layer formed of an alloy of one or more elements from group III on the periodic table, nitrogen, arsenic, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi, and each of the subcells is substantially lattice matched. Methods of manufacturing solar cells and photovoltaic systems comprising at least one of the multijunction solar cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: Anti-reflection coatings (ARC) on solar cells for terrestrial and space use are disclosed, particularly for multi junction solar cells, to maximize transmission of incident light into the active region of the semiconductor solar cell over a wide spectral band.

Abstract: High efficiency multijunction solar cells formed primarily of III-V semiconductor alloys and methods of making high efficiency multijunction solar cells are disclosed.