# US 10,109,757 B2 · Solar cell system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,109,757 B2
- Document ID: US10109757B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/298,955
- Filed: 2014-06-08
- Published: 2014-09-25
- Granted: 2018-10-23
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16
- Assignees: Tsinghua University; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Tsinghua University; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuan-Hao Jin; Qun-Qing Li; Shou-Shan Fan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10109757B2

## CPC

- H10F 10/142: comprising multiple PN homojunctions, e.g. tandem cells
- B82Y 10/00: Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
- H10F 10/161: comprising multiple PN heterojunctions, e.g. tandem cells
- H10F 19/10: comprising photovoltaic cells in arrays in a single semiconductor substrate, the photovoltaic cells having vertical junctions or V-groove junctions
- H10F 19/906: {characterised by the materials of the structures}
- H10F 77/122: comprising only Group IV materials
- H10F 77/147: {Shapes of bodies}
- H10F 77/20: Electrodes
- H10F 77/211: {for photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 77/311: {for photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 77/315: {the coatings being antireflective or having enhancing optical properties}
- H10K 30/50: Photovoltaic [PV] devices
- H10K 85/221: {Carbon nanotubes}
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- Y02E 10/544: Solar cells from Group III-V materials
- Y02E 10/547: Monocrystalline silicon PV cells
- Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- Y10S 977/742: Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
- Y10S 977/743: having specified tube end structure, e.g. close-ended shell or open-ended tube
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A solar cell system includes a number of P-N junction cells, a number of inner electrodes, a first collecting electrode, a second collecting electrode and a reflector. The number of the P-N junction cells is M. M is equal to or greater than 2. The M P-N junction cells are arranged from a first P-N junction cell to an Mth P-N junction cell along the straight line. The P-N junction cells are arranged in series along a straight line. The number of the inner electrodes is M−1. At least one inner electrode includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. A photoreceptive surface is parallel to the straight line. A reflector is located on an emitting surface opposite to the photoreceptive surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar cell system comprises:
a plurality of P-N junction cells comprising M number of P-N junction cells, wherein the M is equal to or greater than two, the plurality of P-N junction cells are arranged from a first P-N junction cell to an Mth P-N junction cell along a straight line and electrically connected to each other in series, and each of the plurality of P-N junction cells comprises a first silicon layer and a second silicon layer arranged side by side and in contact with each other;
an inner electrode located between each adjacent two of the plurality of P-N junction cells, wherein a number of the inner electrodes is M−1, at least one of the inner electrodes comprises a carbon nanotube array comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes, and each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is curved and extends from one of the plurality of P-N junction cells to another one of the plurality of P-N junction cells, which is adjacent to the one of the plurality of P-N junction cells, to form a curved line; each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes has a first end in contact with the one of the plurality of P-N junction cells and a second end in contact with the another one of the plurality of P-N junction cells; the one of the plurality of P-N junction cells comprises a first surface, the another one of the plurality of P-N junction cells comprises a second surface spaced from the first surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are parallel to and facing each other; all of the plurality of first ends are in contact with the first surface, and all of the plurality of second ends are in contact with the second surface, such that all of the plurality of first ends and all of the plurality of second ends are located between the first surface and the second surface; the plurality of carbon nanotubes are located between the first surface and the second surface so that each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes extends from the first surface to the second surface;
a first collecting electrode located on an outside surface of the first P-N junction cell;
a second collecting electrode located on an outside surface of the Mth P-N junction cell; and
a photoreceptive surface configured to directly receive incident light beams, wherein the photoreceptive surface is a surface of the solar cell system and parallel to the straight line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar cell system of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the plurality of carbon nanotubes are curved toward a first direction, and a second portion of the plurality of carbon nanotubes are curved toward a second direction opposite to the first direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solar cell system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of inner electrodes is a carbon nanotube composite comprising the plurality of carbon nanotubes and a conductive material filled in spaces of the plurality of carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The solar cell system of claim 3, wherein the conductive material is a low melting point metal selected from the group consisting of tin, copper, indium, lead, antimony, gold, silver, bismuth, and aluminum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The solar cell system of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube array is a pure carbon nanotube array composed of pure carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 6

A solar cell system comprises:
a plurality of P-N junction cells comprising M number of P-N junction cells, wherein the M is equal to or greater than two, the plurality of P-N junction cells are arranged from a first P-N junction cell to an Mth P-N junction cell along a straight line and electrically connected to each other in series, and each of the plurality of P-N junction cells comprises a first silicon layer and a second silicon layer arranged side by side and in contact with each other;
an inner electrode located between each adjacent two of the plurality of P-N junction cells, wherein a number of the inner electrodes is M−1, and at least one of the inner electrodes comprises a carbon nanotube array comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes are bent to form a plurality of first parallel arcs and a plurality of second parallel arcs, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes extend from one of the plurality of P-N junction cells to another one of the plurality of P-N junction cells, which is adjacent to the one of the plurality of P-N junction cells; each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes has a first end in contact with the one of the plurality of P-N junction cells and a second end in contact with the another one of the plurality of P-N junction cells; the one of the plurality of P-N junction cells comprises a first surface, the another one of the plurality of P-N junction cells comprises a second surface spaced from the first surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are parallel to and facing each other; all of the plurality of first ends are in contact with the first surface, and all of the plurality of second ends are in contact with the second surface, such that all of the plurality of first ends and all of the plurality of second ends are located between the first surface and the second surface; the plurality of carbon nanotubes are located between the first surface and the second surface so that each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes extends from the first surface to the second surface;
a first collecting electrode located on an outside surface of the first P-N junction cell;
a second collecting electrode located on an outside surface of the Mth P-N junction cell; and
a photoreceptive surface configured to directly receive incident light beams, wherein the photoreceptive surface is a surface of the solar cell system and parallel to the straight line.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The solar cell system of claim 6, wherein a first portion of the plurality of carbon nanotubes are bent toward a first direction to form the plurality of first parallel arcs, and a second portion of the plurality of carbon nanotubes are bent toward a second direction opposite to the first direction to form the plurality of second parallel arcs.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The solar cell system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of inner electrodes is a carbon nanotube composite comprising the plurality of carbon nanotubes and a conductive material filled in spaces of the plurality of carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The solar cell system of claim 8, wherein the conductive material is a low melting point metal selected from the group consisting of tin, copper, indium, lead, antimony, gold, silver, bismuth, and aluminum.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The solar cell system of claim 6, wherein the carbon nanotube array is a pure carbon nanotube array composed of pure carbon nanotubes.