Abstract: A solar cell in which performance degradation caused by an alkali component is suppressed. A solar cell is a back-contact solar cell that comprises a semiconductor substrate; a p-type semiconductor layer, and a first electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on one part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on another part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate. One part of the n-type semiconductor layer lies directly atop one part of the adjacent p-type semiconductor layer. The first electrode layer is separate from the n-type semiconductor layer and covers the p-type semiconductor layer. The second electrode layer covers the entirety of an overlapping portion where the n-type semiconductor layer lies atop the p-type semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of band-like first semiconductor layers and a plurality of second semiconductor layers provided alternatively on a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate; a band-like first electrode stacked on the first semiconductor layer and a band-like second electrode stacked on the second semiconductor layer; and a band-shaped or linear insulating body stacked on a back surface of the first semiconductor layer in a region distanced from the first electrode and an edge on a side of the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of incident light. The photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion substrate having two principal surfaces, and comprises a first sensitive part and a second sensitive part that have mutually different photoelectric conversion characteristics. When a sensitive region appearing in the principal surface of the first sensitive part is defined as a first sensitive region, and a sensitive region appearing in the principal surface of the second sensitive part is defined as a second sensitive region, the first sensitive region is configured to receive at least a portion of light incident on a light-receiving surface and to decrease, proportionally to enlargement in an irradiation region of the principal surface irradiated with the incident light, the ratio of the first sensitive region to the second sensitive region in the irradiation region.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of incident light, including a photoelectric conversion substrate provided with two main surfaces, and multiple first sensitivity sections and second sensitivity sections arranged in a prescribed direction. When sensitivity regions on the respective main surfaces of the multiple first sensitivity sections are defined as first sensitivity regions, and sensitivity regions that appear on the main surfaces of the second sensitivity sections are defined as second sensitivity regions, each of the first sensitivity regions receives at least a part of light incident on the main surfaces, and has a pattern in which, in accordance with enlargement of an irradiation region irradiated with incident light on the main surface, the proportion of the first sensitivity regions in the irradiation region with respect to the first sensitivity regions other than those in the irradiation region and the second sensitivity regions is decreased.

Abstract: A solar cell module which exhibits high output while ensuring connection strength between solar cells; and a solar cell suitable for the solar cell module. In the solar cell, a region on a first surface and at a first edge of a substrate that is not covered by a p-type transparent oxide electrode layer is defined as a “region A,” and a region on the first surface and at a second edge opposite to the first edge of the substrate and not covered by the p-type transparent oxide electrode layer is defined as a “region B.” The area of the region A is larger than the area of the region B.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device for detecting the spot size of incident light, includes a photoelectric conversion element having a photoelectric conversion substrate with two main surfaces, and first and second sensitivity section sections; and scanners that relatively scan incident light on the main surfaces of the photoelectric conversion element. When a sensitivity region on a main surface of the first sensitivity section is defined as a first sensitivity region and sensitivity regions that appear on a main surface of the second sensitivity sections are defined as second sensitivity regions, the first sensitivity region receives at least part of the light incident on the main surface during scanning, and has a pattern in which, in accordance with enlargement of an irradiation region irradiated with incident light on the main surface, the proportion of the first sensitivity region with respect to the second sensitivity regions in the irradiation region is decreased.

Abstract: Each solar cell 1 includes: a silicon substrate 2; a diffusion layer 3; a first collection electrode 4 contacting the diffusion layer 3; a first connection electrode 5 contacting the diffusion layer 3 and the first collection electrode 4; an insulation layer 7 having an opening portion extending therethrough; a second collection electrode 8 contacting the insulation layer 7 and connected to the single crystal silicon substrate 2 via the opening portion 70; and a second connection electrode 9 contacting the second collection electrode 8. The first connection electrode 5 and the second connection electrode 9 are separated from each other. The second collection electrode 8 and the single crystal silicon substrate 2 are separated from each other via the insulation layer 7 in almost all or all of an overlapping area of each two adjacent PERC solar cells 1.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an island-shaped conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated, and the island-shaped conductive layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device according to the present disclosure includes: a first-conductivity-type semiconductor film provided on a back side of a semiconductor substrate; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor film in which at least a part thereof is provided in a position different, in plan view, from a position of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor film on the back side of the semiconductor substrate; a protective film, which is formed on a back side of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor film and a back side of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor film, and which includes a conductive portion and a non-conductive transformed portion; and an electrode film formed on a back side of the conductive portion. The transformed portion of the protective film is provided along a conduction path between a back surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor film and a back surface of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor film.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a back electrode type solar cell, may include forming by physical vapor deposition at least one layer of an electrode material film on both a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, to give a first electrode layer, and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, to give a second electrode layer, and patterning the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer each in a strip-like shape such that the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer both extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction by removing a part of the electrode material film.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of incident light. The photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion substrate having two principal surfaces, and the substrate includes a first sensitivity part and a second sensitivity part that are separated from each other. When a sensitivity area appearing on the principal surface of the first sensitivity part is defined as a first sensitivity area and a sensitivity area appearing on the principal surface of the second sensitivity part is defined as a second sensitivity area, the first sensitivity area receives at least a portion of incident light incident on a light receiving surface, and a pattern is formed such that an increase in an irradiation area of the principal surface irradiated with the incident light reduces the ratio of the first sensitivity area to the second sensitivity area in the irradiation area.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion section, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The semiconductor substrate has a thickness of 70 ?m or more and 200 ?m or less. A chipping mark is present on an edge of at least one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The maximum length of the chipping mark along a side of the semiconductor substrate is 45 ?m or less. The semiconductor substrate does not have a scribe mark due to laser irradiation. The solar cell can suppress a reduction in the fill factor.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes a solar cell string including a plurality of solar cells connected through a wiring member. The solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion section, a light-receiving-surface electrode disposed on a light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion section, and a metal film disposed on a back face of the photoelectric conversion section. The metal film has a plurality of openings along the extending direction of the wiring member, in a connection region between the solar cell and the wiring member. The wiring member is connected through an adhesive layer to the metal film and to the photoelectric conversion section exposed from the openings of the metal film or an electrode fixed on the photoelectric conversion section. There is a non-bonding portion between the metal film and the photoelectric conversion section.

Abstract: In a solar cell device, adjacent solar cells are connected such that one of the adjacent solar cells overlaps with the other while having a connection member interposed therebetween. In the solar cell, a region in an end portion overlaid by the adjacent solar cell is referred to as an overlapping region, a region in the overlapping region which is in contact with the connection member is referred to as a connection region, and a region in the overlapping region which surrounds the connection region is referred to as a surrounding region. In the solar cell, outside the overlapping region, a surface of the metal electrode layer is covered with an oxide film, and the surface of the metal electrode layer in the connection region and a portion of the surface of the metal electrode layer in the surrounding region are not covered with an oxide film.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an island-shaped conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated, and the island-shaped conductive layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: The solar cell includes a plurality of light-receiving-side finger electrodes on a light-receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion section having a semiconductor junction. The light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion section is covered with a first insulating layer. Each light-receiving-side finger electrodes include: a first metal seed layer provided between the photoelectric conversion section and the first insulating layer; and a first plating metal layer being conduction with the first metal seed layer through openings formed in the first insulating layer. The solar cell includes an isolated plating metal layer pieces contacting neither the light-receiving-side finger electrodes nor the back-side finger electrodes. On the surface of the first insulating layer, an isolated plating metal crowded region is present in a form of a band-shape extending parallel to an extending direction of the light-receiving-side finger electrodes.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device according to the present disclosure includes: a first-conductivity-type semiconductor film provided on a back side of a semiconductor substrate; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor film in which at least a part thereof is provided in a position different, in plan view, from a position of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor film on the back side of the semiconductor substrate; a protective film, which is formed on a back side of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor film and a back side of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor film, and which includes a conductive portion and a non-conductive transformed portion; and an electrode film formed on a back side of the conductive portion. The transformed portion of the protective film is provided along a conduction path between a back surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor film and a back surface of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor film.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of input light. The photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion substrate having two main surfaces; a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and a first electrode layer, which are sequentially laminated on the light receiving surface side, i.e., one main surface, of the photoelectric conversion substrate; and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer and a second electrode layer, which are sequentially laminated on the rear surface side, i.e., the other main surface, of the photoelectric conversion substrate. The photoelectric conversion element is also provided with an insulating layer that is provided between the photoelectric conversion substrate and the second electrode layer, and the insulating layer has a plurality of through holes that are two-dimensionally provided along the main surface of the photoelectric conversion substrate.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion section of a solar cell has a first electrode layer and a collecting electrode that are formed in this order on a first principal surface, and has a second electrode layer that is formed on a second principal surface. The collecting electrode includes a first electroconductive layer, an insulating layer, and a second electroconductive layer in this order on the first electrode layer. The first and second electroconductive layers are electrically connected via an opening section in the insulating layer. At peripheral edge of the first and second principal surfaces, the photoelectric conversion section has an insulating region excluding the first or second electrode layer. On the side of the principal surface having no insulating region, the first or second electrode layer is formed up to the peripheral end of the relevant principal surface.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an island-shaped conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on one principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated, and the island-shaped conductive layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.