Abstract: Improved flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A solar cell has non-transcending grooves or trenches, that penetrate some, but not all, of a silicon layer or semiconductor wafer of the solar cell. The non-transcending grooves or trenches are segmenting the solar cell into regions, and provide flexibility and mechanical resilience. Selective and localized region-constrained doping of an opposite polarity is performed at particular regions or locations of a surface or front region of the solar cell; as well as selective and localized placement of metallized electrical contacts. Grooving or trenching operations can be performed via a dopant-containing layer, to prevent or reduce recombination at or near exposed surfaces.

Abstract: A flexible solar module has an integral and internal thin metal foil, which is an integral layer of the solar cell stack. The thin metal foil collects and transports photovoltaic (PV) generated electric power from a plurality of regions of the solar module. A single metal foil can mechanically connect, and can collect PV-generated electric power, from multiple such solar cells; and is further coated from beneath by lamination or encapsulation layers. A plurality of solar modules are mounted on top of a support structure or a polymeric support substrate, that has metal wires running integrally therein. The metal wires are arranged in accordance with a pre-defined layout, such that most of the length of each metal wire is concealed and is protected within the support structure or the polymeric support substrate.

Abstract: Enhanced flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A flexible Photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a flexible PV cell, configured to generate electricity from light; and a stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh, that is attached to a surface of said flexible PV cell, and that is configured to collect and aggregate PV-generated electricity from said flexible PV cell. The stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is capable of stretching or compressing in response to mechanical forces that are applied to said flexible PV cell, while generally maintaining physical connectivity and electrical connectivity to electricity-generating regions of said PV cell. The Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is embedded or attached onto, or at least partially embedded within, a Flexible Polymeric Support Foil that supports both the Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh and the flexible PV cell.

Abstract: A flexible and mechanically-resilient Photovoltaic (PV) cell is formed of a single semiconductor wafer. It includes non-transcending craters or bling gaps, that penetrate upwardly from a dark-side surface towards a sunny-side surface but do not reach the sunny-side surface. The craters segment the wafer into miniature sub-regions, and provide mechanical resilience and mechanical shock absorption. A set of conducting wires are located on each side of the PV cell; one set collects the negative electric charge, and the other set collects the positive electric charge. The conducting wires are embedded in an adhesive transparent flexible plastic foil. Optionally, a bi-facial PV cell is similarly provided, as well as methods and systems for producing such PV cells.