# US 12,224,361 B2 · Solar cell module having upconversion nano-particles and method of manufacturing the solar cell module

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- Number: US 12,224,361 B2
- Document ID: US12224361B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/580,984
- Filed: 2022-01-21
- Published: 2022-07-28
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-01-26
- Assignees: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
- Applicants: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
- Inventors: Jae Hyung Lee; Hongsub Jee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224361B2

## CPC

- H10F 77/315: {the coatings being antireflective or having enhancing optical properties}
- H10F 77/45: Wavelength conversion means, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements
- C09K 11/7773: {with alkali or alkaline earth metal}
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells
- H10F 77/955: {for photovoltaic devices}
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Disclosed is a solar cell module. The module includes a solar cell including a plurality of unit battery cells electrically connected to each other via internal connection electrodes; an upper cover disposed on a front face of the solar cell; a light-conversion coating layer coated on an inner face of the upper cover, wherein the light-conversion coating layer includes upconversion nano-particles for absorbing near-infrared rays and emitting light having a wavelength in a visible region; a lower cover disposed on a rear face of the solar cell; a first filling material layer formed between the solar cell and the light-conversion coating layer; and a second filling material layer formed between the solar cell and the lower cover.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar cell module, comprising:
a solar cell including unit battery cells electrically connected to each other via connection electrodes;
an upper cover disposed on a front face of the solar cell;
a light-conversion coating layer coated on an inner face of the upper cover and comprising a transparent matrix layer and upconversion nano-particles for absorbing near-infrared rays and emitting light having a wavelength in a visible region;
a lower cover disposed on a rear face of the solar cell;
a first filling material layer formed between the solar cell and the light-conversion coating layer; and
a second filling material layer formed between the solar cell and the lower cover,
wherein the upconversion nano-particles comprising NaYF4 doped with ytterbium (Yb) and erbium (Er) are dispersed in a material including a photoresist of the transparent matrix layer,
wherein a mass ratio of the upconversion nano-particles comprising NaYF4, Yb and Er to the material including the photoresist of the transparent matrix layer is greater than 1:10 and less than 1.5, and
wherein the first and second filling material layers are formed to directly contact front and rear surfaces of the solar cell, respectively.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar cell module of claim 1, wherein the upconversion nano-particles absorb the near-infrared rays and emit visible light having a wavelength in a range of 350 to 500 nm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solar cell module of claim 1, wherein the light-conversion coating layer has a thickness in a range of 500 μm to 3 mm.

### Claim 4

A solar cell module, comprising:
a substrate;
a transparent matrix layer formed on one face of the substrate;
upconversion nano-particles dispersed in the transparent matrix layer;
a first filling material layer formed under the transparent matrix layer comprising the upconversion nano-particles;
a solar cell including unit battery cells electrically connected to each other via connection electrodes; and
a second filling material layer formed under the solar cell,
wherein the upconversion nano-particles comprising NaYF4 doped with ytterbium (Yb) and erbium (Er) are dispersed in a material including a photoresist of the transparent matrix layer,
wherein a mass ratio of the upconversion nano-particles comprising NaYF4, Yb and Er to the material including the photoresist of the transparent matrix layer is greater than 1:10 and less than 1.5, and
wherein each of the first and second filling material layers comprises EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), silicone resin, or PVB (polyvinyl butyral).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The solar cell module of claim 4, wherein the upconversion nano-particles absorb near-infrared rays and emit visible light having a wavelength in a range of 350 to 500 nm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The solar cell module of claim 4, wherein the substrate comprises glass.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The solar cell module of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second filling material layers comprises EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), silicone resin, or PVB (polyvinyl butyral).

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The solar cell module of claim 4, wherein the first and second filling material layers are formed to directly contact front and rear surfaces of the solar cell, respectively.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The solar cell module of claim 1, wherein the light-conversion coating layer further comprises cyclopentanone, and
wherein a solid content of a mixed composition constituting the light-conversion coating layer is adjusted based on the cyclopentanone and ranges from 50 to 80 wt. %.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The solar cell module of claim 4, wherein the light-conversion coating layer further comprises cyclopentanone, and
wherein a solid content of a mixed composition constituting a light-conversion coating layer comprising the transparent matrix layer and the upconversion nano-particles is adjusted based on the cyclopentanone and ranges from 50 to 80 wt. %.