Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric converting portion, a first electrode formed on a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a second electrode connected to the first electrode on the first main surface. The first electrode includes a plurality of first connecting portions to be connected to an interconnector and a first non-connecting portion not connected to an interconnector. The first non-connecting portion is arranged between first connecting portions to electrically connect the first connecting portions together. The first connecting portion and first non-connecting portion are coupled forming an angle larger than 90° and smaller than 180°. A solar cell string and a solar cell module employ the solar cells.

Abstract: There are provided a solar cell including a semiconductor substrate and a busbar electrode extending in a first direction and a finger electrode extending in a second direction on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate the finger electrode and the busbar electrode being electrically connected to each other, and a side portion of the busbar electrode being curved such that a width of the busbar electrode increases toward an end portion of the busbar electrode in a region near the end portion of the busbar electrode in the first direction a solar cell string, and a solar cell module.

Abstract: A fabrication method of a solar battery includes at least an aluminum electrode formation step of applying, drying and baking aluminum paste on at least a portion of the back side of a solar cell to form an aluminum electrode, and a cooling step of cooling the solar cell having an aluminum electrode formed at an atmosphere temperature of not more than 10° C., after the aluminum electrode formation step. Accordingly, a solar battery having warping reduced without degrading the electric characteristics, reliability and appearance, and a fabrication method thereof are provided.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric converting portion, a first electrode formed on a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a second electrode connected to the first electrode on the first main surface. The first electrode includes a plurality of first connecting portions to be connected to an interconnector and a first non-connecting portion not connected to an interconnector. The first non-connecting portion is arranged between first connecting portions to electrically connect the first connecting portions together. The first connecting portion and first non-connecting portion are coupled forming an angle larger than 90° and smaller than 180°. A solar cell string and a solar cell module employ the solar cells.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. On the first main surface, a bus bar electrode and a plurality of linear finger electrodes extending from the bus bar electrode are provided. The bus bar electrode includes a first connecting portion to be connected to an interconnector and a first non-connecting portion without connected to the interconnector. The first connecting portion and the first non-connecting portion are alternately arranged. An interconnector-equipped solar cell, a solar cell string and a solar cell module use this solar cell.

Abstract: A paste composition for forming an electrically conductive layer on a p-type silicon semiconductor substrate comprises aluminum powder, an organic vehicle and powder of at least one inorganic compound selected from a group consisting of an oxide-based inorganic compound and a non-oxide-based inorganic compound. The oxide-based inorganic compound has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum and a melting temperature, a softening temperature and a decomposition temperature each higher than the melting point of aluminum. The non-oxide-based inorganic compound has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum and at least one of a melting temperature, a softening temperature or a decomposition temperature higher than the melting point of aluminum.

Abstract: In a solar cell, at least one of reinforcing material and buffering material is provided at least partially on at least one of a back surface, a front surface and a side surface of the solar cell. With these reinforcing material and/or buffering material, occurrence of cell fracture due to load imposed by external force can be decreased.

Abstract: A fabrication method of a solar battery includes at least an aluminum electrode formation step of applying, drying and baking aluminum paste on at least a portion of the back side of a solar cell to form an aluminum electrode, and a cooling step of cooling the solar cell having an aluminum electrode formed at an atmosphere temperature of not more than 10° C., after the aluminum electrode formation step. Accordingly, a solar battery having warping reduced without degrading the electric characteristics, reliability and appearance, and a fabrication method thereof are provided.

Abstract: A solar cell has phosphorus included in a lead-free solder layer that covers silver electrodes. The amount of phosphorus in the lead-free solder is preferably 0.00001 to 0.5 mass %. The silver electrodes are silver paste electrodes formed by firing silver paste. A solar cell string interconnects such solar cells with an interconnector coated with the lead-free solder. A solar cell module incorporates such a string. Thus, a solar cell of high reliability, improved in wettability of lead-free solder, exhibiting thin coating of an electrode by lead-free solder, suppressed in detachment of interconnector a solar cell string, or a solar cell module can be provided.

Abstract: A solar cell has silver paste electrodes coated with a lead-free solder layer. The silver paste electrodes are formed by firing silver paste. The average grain size of powdery glass included in the silver paste is at least 11 &mgr;m, or the amount of powdery glass included in the silver paste is 2.8 to 10.0 mass %, or the average thickness of the silver paste electrode is at least 15 &mgr;m. Thus, a solar cell further improved in reliability, maintaining adherence between the silver paste electrode and an n type diffusion layer or p type silicon substrate, suppressed in detachment of an interconnector, and a fabrication method of such a solar cell are provided.

Abstract: A paste composition for forming an electrically conductive layer on a p-type silicon semiconductor substrate comprises aluminum powder, an organic vehicle and powder of at least one inorganic compound selected from a group consisting of an oxide-based inorganic compound and a non-oxide-based inorganic compound. The oxide-based inorganic compound has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum and a melting temperature, a softening temperature and a decomposition temperature each higher than the melting point of aluminum. The non-oxide-based inorganic compound has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum and at least one of a melting temperature, a softening temperature or a decomposition temperature higher than the melting point of aluminum.

Abstract: In a solar cell, at least one of reinforcing material and buffering material is provided at least partially on at least one of a back surface, a front surface and a side surface of the solar cell. With these reinforcing material and/or buffering material, occurrence of cell fracture due to load imposed by external force can be decreased.