Abstract: A method for producing a solar cell module is obtained that allows a wiring material to be wired by a highly productive wiring method when a solar cell module is formed by arranging the wiring material on an electrode of a solar cell. The method for producing a solar cell module includes preparing a plurality of solar cells having an electrode on at least one of a first main surface and a second main surface, arranging the plurality of solar cells so that the first main surfaces of the plurality of solar cells face roughly in the same direction, connecting the linear conductor for electrically connecting one of the electrode on the first main surface and the electrode on the second main surface of each solar cell with one continuous linear conductor, and electrically disconnecting the continuous linear conductor after the connecting the linear conductor so that the electrodes of at least one pair of adjacent solar cells among the plurality of solar cells are connected in series.

Abstract: A method for producing a solar cell module is obtained that allows a wiring material to be wired by a highly productive wiring method when a solar cell module is formed by arranging the wiring material on an electrode of a solar cell. The method for producing a solar cell module includes preparing a plurality of solar cells having an electrode on at least one of a first main surface and a second main surface, arranging the plurality of solar cells so that the first main surfaces of the plurality of solar cells face roughly in the same direction, connecting the linear conductor for electrically connecting one of the electrode on the first main surface and the electrode on the second main surface of each solar cell with one continuous linear conductor, and electrically disconnecting the continuous linear conductor after the connecting the linear conductor so that the electrodes of at least one pair of adjacent solar cells among the plurality of solar cells are connected in series.

Abstract: A method of producing a crystalline silicon solar cell, comprising: printing a conductive paste on a crystalline silicon substrate, and firing the conductive paste to form a light incident side electrode, wherein the conductive paste comprises conductive particles, glass frits, an organic binder and a solvent, the conductive particles comprise zinc particles and copper particles, and a weight ratio of the zinc particles and the copper particles is 2:1 to 2:3.

Abstract: A method for producing a solar cell, including printing a conductive paste on a crystalline silicon substrate, and firing the conductive paste to form a light incident side electrode, wherein the conductive paste comprises conductive particles, glass frits, an organic binder and a solvent, wherein the conductive particles comprise (A) silver, and (B) one or more metals selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, aluminum, zinc and tin, and the weight proportion (A):(B) is 5:95 to 90:10.

Abstract: A solar cell containing an electrode, wherein the electrode is formed by firing a conductive paste, wherein the conductive paste includes an organic binder, a solvent, conductive particles, glass frits and a compound containing Al, Ga, In or Tl. A method for producing a solar cell by forming an electrode by firing a conductive paste, wherein the conductive paste includes an organic binder, a solvent, conductive particles, glass frits and a compound containing Al, Ga, In or Tl.

Abstract: A conductive paste for solar cells, which makes it possible to form an electrode for a solar cell that is low in cost and has an equal degree of contact resistance and ohmic electrical contact, as compared to conventional silver electrode pastes, is obtained. It is a conductive paste for solar cells, comprising conductive particles, glass fits, an organic binder and a solvent, in which paste the conductive particles comprise (A) silver and (B) one or more selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, aluminum, zinc and tin, and the weight proportion (A):(B) is 5:95 to 90:10.

Abstract: A conductive paste for forming electrodes, which makes it possible to form an electrode for a crystalline silicon substrate that is low in cost and has an equal degree of contact resistance and ohmic electrical contact, as compared to conventional silver electrode pastes, is obtained. It is a conductive paste for forming an electrode for a crystalline silicon substrate, comprising conductive particles, glass frits, an organic binder and a solvent, in which conductive paste is characterized by comprising zinc particles as the conductive particles.

Abstract: A conductive paste for solar cell electrodes with which high FF value can be obtained stably, and a method for producing a solar cell using the same are provided. The conductive paste is a conductive paste for solar cell electrodes which includes an organic binder, a solvent, conductive particles, glass frits, and (A) a substance which changes into a gas at a temperature in the range of 150 to 800° C., and a metal oxide, (B) an organometallic compound and a metal oxide, or (C) a compound containing Al, Ga, In or Tl.

Abstract: An atomizer for forming a thin film comprising an atomizing box, a guide tube having an open end of small diameter and an other open end of large diameter, a nozzle having an ejection outlet disposed in the atomizing box, an atomizing solution reservoir defined in the atomizing box adjacent to the open end of large diameter of the guide tube, and a fluid return passage defined around the circumference of the guide tube for returning the atomized solution from the atomizing solution reservoir to the one open end thereof. The atomizing box can contain a plurality of guide tubes each provided with a nozzle. The guide tube can also have a plurality of nozzles positioned therein.

Abstract: There is disclosed an atomized thin film forming apparatus for forming a thin film by spouting an atomized source solution toward a heated substrate. A pair of inner wall surfaces defined at the upper portion of a film forming nozzle and disposed opposite to each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of a film forming chamber are restricted so as to gradually narrow in the interval therebetween toward a spouting opening in a smooth curve. Hence, it is possible to prevent a mist of the source solution atomized by the atomizer from being locally stagnant in the film forming nozzle and prevent a precipitate of the atomized source solution from growing. Consequently, the flow of the mist of the source solution is not hindered by the precipitation of the atomized source solution so that the thin film is formed over the surface of the substrate at a high uniformity for a long period of time.

Abstract: A thin film forming apparatus which forms a thin film over a surface of a subtrate by spraying a mist of a source solution produced by atomization over the surface of the substrate heated to a given temperature. The film forming apparatus is provided with a pair of guide members for supporting and guiding the substrate at opposite sides of the same. The distance between the opposite inner surfaces of the guide members can be changed according to the width of the substrate to be supported and guided by the pair of guide members. The distance between the respective lower portions of the opposite inner surfaces of the pair of guide members is greater than the distance between the upper portions of the opposite inner surfaces of the same, so that the distribution of the flow rate per unit flow passage area of the mist of the source solution is uniform with respect to the width of the substrate and enables a thin film of a uniform thickness to be formed over the entire surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A chemical sensor includes a field effect-type transistor. An extended gate electrode is connected to a gate electrode of the transistor. A sensitive membrane is provided on at least a part of the extended gate electrode. The sensor also includes a reference electrode. Both the extended gate and reference electrodes are formed on a substrate different from the substrate on which the transistor is formed. Divided parts for the chemical sensor wherein the parts of the sensor except for the reference electrode are made independent are also disclosed and claimed. Sensors for simultaneously sensing a number of different chemical substances in a single sample are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A thin film forming apparatus which forms a thin film over the film forming surface of a substrate by spraying a mist of a source solution produced by atomization over the film forming surface of the substrate heated to a given temperature. The substrate conveying direction is reversible, or a nozzle for spouting the mist into a film forming chamber and an exhaust duct are connected removably to a hearth forming the bottom wall of the film forming chamber and can be switched with one another. The film forming apparatus is capable of forming thin films of different laminate constructions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for forming a transparent conductive metal oxide film having good characteristic properties. The method comprises feeding an atomized or gasified starting material onto a substrate to form a metal oxide film on the substrate, wherein the substrate is heated to form a first metal oxide film having a good degree of orientation of crystals and a second film formation step wherein a second metal oxide film is formed on the first metal oxide film under higher substrate temperature conditions than those in the first film formation step to form a second metal oxide film having a degree of orientation of crystals in conformity with that of the first metal oxide film.

Abstract: An ion sensor includes an ion sensitive membrane formed from a vinyl polymer based compound containing a hydroxyl and/or carboxyl group. The membrane is provided on an extended gate electrode on a gate electrode of a field-effect type transistor. The ion sensor also includes a reference electrode arranged in opposition to the extended gate electrode. The extended gate electrode and reference electrode are formed on a substrate different from the substrate on which the field-effect type transistor is formed. A divided part for an ion sensor is also provided and includes the portions of the ion sensor discussed above except for the reference electrode. The divided part is used with a separate reference electrode.

Abstract: A mist supplying device for supplying a film-forming solution to form a thin film on a substrate includes a nozzle having an elongate outlet port, an atomizer coupled to the nozzle for atomizing the film-forming solution, and a disperser movably disposed in the nozzle between the outlet port and the atomizer and having a plurality of substantially uniformly distributed mist passages for passing the atomized film-forming solution in a first flow passage direction therethrough. An air blower is coupled to the atomizer for delivering the atomized film-forming solution into the nozzle. A driver unit is coupled to the disperser for reciprocally moving the mist passages in a second flow passage direction transverse to the first flow passage direction.

Abstract: A thin-film solar cell has a two-layered transparent electrode formed on a transparent substrate, a photoelectric conversion section formed on the transparent electrode, and a back electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion section. The first layer of the transparent electrode is formed on the transparent substrate and is constituted of crystal grains having a large average diameter, while the second layer thereof is formed on the first layer and is constituted of crystal grains having a small average grain diameter. The sharp pointed tips of the coarse crystal grains of the first layer are covered by the fine crystal grains of the second layer so that the side of the transparent electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion section presents a relatively smooth surface with rounded irregularities. Each layer is separately deposited on the respective transparent substrate.

Abstract: An amorphous silicon solar battery is formed by applying a sequence of layers on a transparent substrate, preferably of glass. A transparent electrode film of conductive material is applied on the substrate, followed by an amorphous silicon semi-conductor, which is in turn followed by a back electrode film of transparent conductive film. In addition, a metallic film may be formed on the back electrode. The surface roughness of the first transparent conductive film is such that the average grain diameter is in the range of 0.1-0.9 micron. Impinging light rays are refracted at random by this uneven surface. The result is an increase in the current density of the solar battery, due to the increased optical paths of the light rays through the semi-conductor material and the increased reflection effect at the second transparent conductive film.

Abstract: A thin-film forming device has a support frame for supporting a substrate to be coated with a thin film, a reaction chamber having a space surrounded by the substrate supported on the support frame, side walls mounted under both sides of the substrate and a bottom wall mounted under the side walls, an atomizer for delivering an atomized solution of a material to be coated on the surface of the substrate, a heater disposed behind the substrate for heating the substrate to a temperature higher than a reaction temperature of the material, and a nozzle connected to the atomizer and disposed in the reaction chamber in facing relation to the substrate for spraying the atomized solution toward the surface of the substrate, and cooling means for cooling at least an inside portion of the bottom wall in facing relation to the substrate to a temperature below the reaction temperature of the material.

Abstract: A photoelectric transducer comprising at least a light-transmissive substrate having a relatively flat surface provided on its light-receiving side and an uneven surface provided on its opposite side, and a photoelectric transducing layer provided on the uneven surface of the substrate. The photoelectric transducing layer comprises at least a light-transmissive conductive layer, a semiconductor layer, and a back conductive electrode layer. The back conductive electrode layer comprises a second light-transmissive conductive layer and a conductive layer. The uneven surface on the substrate includes numerous projections, each projection having a triangular section and a shape of pyramidal, ridged roof, or conical type. The projections and the second light-transmissive conductive layer of the uneven back conductive electrode layer elongate the optical path of light beams in the photoelectric transducing layer, and prevent the adherence of dust particles and the abrasion of the photoelectric transducing layer.