Back to results
US 12,677,522 B2Granted
Thin film photovoltaic modules with perimeter bypass diodes
AssigneeTandem PV
InventorsColin David Bailie, Chris Eberspacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the disclosure include a photovoltaic device including a plurality of photovoltaic cells coupled in series. The photovoltaic cells include a first contact layer, a first charge transport layer (CTL) disposed over the first contact layer, an absorber layer disposed over the first CTL, a second CTL disposed over the absorber layer; and a second contact layer disposed over the second CTL. A plurality of diodes are positioned in diode regions that are located on opposite edges of the plurality of PV cells. The plurality of diodes are coupled in series and are configured to form a diode between adjacent PV cells of the plurality PV cells.
Claims20
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells coupled in series, wherein the plurality of PV cells comprise:
- a first contact layer;
- a first charge transport layer (CTL layer) disposed over the first contact layer;
- an absorber layer disposed over the first CTL layer;
- a second CTL layer disposed over the absorber layer;
- and
- a second contact layer disposed over the second CTL layer, wherein the plurality of PV cells comprise a first PV cell and a second PV cell that are adjacent to one another and separated by a first scribe line;
- and
- a plurality of diodes positioned in diode regions that are located on opposite edges of the plurality of PV cells, wherein the plurality of diodes are coupled in series and are configured to form a diode between adjacent PV cells of the plurality PV cells, wherein each of the plurality of diodes comprise:
- a portion of the first contact layer of the first PV cell located in a first electrode region and a portion of the first contact layer of the second PV cell located in an second electrode region, the first electrode region of the first contact layer being coupled to the first PV cell and the second electrode region of the first contact layer being coupled to the second PV cell, the portion of the first contact layer of the first PV cell located in the first electrode region and the portion of the first contact layer of the second PV cell located in the second electrode region being electronically isolated from each other;
- a portion of the first CTL layer and the second CTL layer of the second PV cell positioned over the portion of the first contact layer of the second PV cell located in the second electrode region and a portion of the first CTL layer and the second CTL layer of the first PV cell are not included in the first electrode region;
- and
- a portion of the second contact layer of the first PV cell positioned over and in direct contact with the portion of the first contact layer of the first PV cell positioned in the first electrode region.
10 more elements
A method comprising:
- forming a first charge transport layer (CTL layer) over a patterned first contact layer, wherein the patterned first contact layer comprises:
- a first portion of a first contact layer positioned over a surface of a first substrate;
- a second portion of the first contact layer positioned over the surface of the first substrate, wherein a first scribe line is positioned between the first portion and the second portion;
- the first portion of the first contact layer comprises a first PV cell region and a first electrode region;
- and
- the second portion of the first contact layer comprises a second PV cell region and an second electrode region;
- forming an absorber layer over the first CTL layer, wherein the absorber layer is formed over the first PV cell region, the second PV cell region, the first electrode region, and the second electrode region;
- removing, by use of a scribing process, the absorber layer formed over the first electrode region and the second electrode region;
- forming a second CTL layer over the absorber layer of the first PV cell region and the second PV cell region, and over the first electrode region, and the second electrode region;
- removing, by use of a scribing process, a portion of the first CTL layer and the second CTL layer formed over the first electrode region, wherein removing the portion of the first CTL layer exposes a portion of the first contact layer within the first electrode region;
- depositing a second contact layer over the second CTL layer within the first PV cell, the second PV cell, and the second electrode region, and over the exposed portion of the first electrode region;
- removing, by use of a scribing process, a first portion of the second contact layer positioned between the first PV cell region and the second PV cell region;
- and
- removing, by use of a scribing process, a second portion of the second contact layer positioned between a portion of the first PV cell region and the first electrode region.
11 more elements
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells coupled in series, wherein the plurality of PV cells comprise:
- a first contact layer;
- a first charge transport layer (CTL layer) disposed over the first contact layer;
- an absorber layer disposed over the first CTL layer;
- a second charge transport layer (CTL layer) disposed over the absorber layer;
- and
- a second contact layer disposed over the second CTL layer, wherein the plurality of PV cells comprise a first PV cell and a second PV cell that are adjacent to one another and separated by a first scribe line;
- and
- a plurality of diodes positioned in diode regions located on opposite edges of the plurality of PV cells that are coupled in series, the plurality of diodes configured to couple adjacent PV cells of the plurality PV cells, wherein each of the diodes comprise:
- a portion of the first contact layer of the first PV cell located in a first electrode region and a portion of the first contact layer of the second PV cell located in an second electrode region, the first electrode region being coupled to the first PV cell and the second electrode region being coupled to the second PV cell, the portion of the first contact layer of the first PV cell located in the first electrode region and the portion of the first contact layer of the second PV cell located in the second electrode region being electronically isolated from each other;
- a portion of the first CTL layer and the second CTL layer of the second PV cell positioned over the portion of the first contact layer of the second PV cell located in the second electrode region and a portion of the first CTL layer and the second CTL layer of the first PV cell are removed from the first electrode region;
- and
- a portion of the second contact layer of the first PV cell positioned over and in direct contact with the portion of the first contact layer of the first PV cell positioned in the first electrode region, wherein the first electrode region is electronically isolated from the first PV cell via a second scribe line.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.