# US 2021/0242359 A1 · Semi-transparent thin-film photovoltaic device provided with an optimized metal/native oxide/metal electrical contact

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- Number: US 2021/0242359 A1
- Document ID: US20210242359A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/238,891
- Filed: 2021-04-23
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-26
- Assignees: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
- Applicants: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
- Inventors: Mohamed Bouchoucha
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242359A1

## CPC

- H10F 19/906: {characterised by the materials of the structures}
- H10F 77/1692: {the films including only Group IV materials}
- H10F 10/17: Photovoltaic cells having only PIN junction potential barriers
- H10F 19/35: Structures for the connecting of adjacent photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers
- H10F 19/37: comprising means for obtaining partial light transmission through the integrated devices, or the assemblies of multiple devices, e.g. partially transparent thin-film photovoltaic modules for windows
- H10F 77/211: {for photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 77/215: {Geometries of grid contacts}
- H10F 77/244: {made of transparent conductive layers, e.g. transparent conductive oxide [TCO] layers}
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y02E 10/548: Amorphous silicon PV cells
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A thin-film semi-transparent photovoltaic device comprising: a plurality of active photovoltaic zones, having a surface S5, formed of: a transparent substrate; a front electrode formed of a transparent electroconductive material arranged on the transparent substrate; an absorber made up of one or more photoactive thin layer(s); a rear electrode formed of a stack of at least: a conductive metal layer; and a native metal oxide layer having a nanometric thickness. The device additionally includes a plurality of transparent zones separating at least two active photovoltaic zones; and a metal reconnection layer having a contact surface S to the rear electrode, wherein the ratio Ra=S/S5 between the contact surface S of the metal reconnection layer and the surface S5 of an active photovoltaic zone is such that 0.2%<Ra<2%.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A semi-transparent thin-film photovoltaic device comprising:
a plurality of active photovoltaic zones, having a surface S5, formed of:
a transparent substrate;
a front electrode formed of a transparent electroconductive material arranged on the transparent substrate;
an absorber made up of one or more photoactive thin layers; and
a rear electrode formed of a stack of at least:
a conductive metal layer; and
a native metal oxide layer having a nanometric thickness;
a plurality of transparent zones separating at least of the two active photovoltaic zones; and
a metal reconnection layer having a contact surface S to the rear electrode;
wherein the ratio Ra=S/S5 between the contact surface S of the metal reconnection layer and the surface S5 of an active photovoltaic zone is such that 0.2%<Ra<2%.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the ratio Ra is such that 1.6%<Ra<2%.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive metal layer is made of aluminum and the native oxide layer is made of alumina.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the metal reconnection layer is made of aluminum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the metal reconnection layer includes a plurality of electrically interconnected patterns.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface S between the metal reconnection layer and the rear electrode is rectangular in shape.

### Claim 7

A semi-transparent thin-film photovoltaic device comprising:
a plurality of active photovoltaic zones, having a surface S5, formed of:
a transparent substrate;
a front electrode formed of a transparent electroconductive material arranged on the transparent substrate;
an absorber made up of one or more photoactive thin layers; and
a rear electrode formed of a stack of at least:
a conductive metal layer; and
a native metal oxide layer having a nanometric thickness;
a plurality of transparent zones separating at least of the two active photovoltaic zones; and
a metal reconnection layer having a contact surface S to the rear electrode;
wherein the ratio Ra=S/S5 between the contact surface S of the metal reconnection layer and the surface S5 of an active photovoltaic zone is such that 1.6%<Ra<2%.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the conductive metal layer is made of aluminum and the native oxide layer is made of alumina.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the metal reconnection layer is made of aluminum.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the contact surface of the metal reconnection layer includes a plurality of electrically interconnected patterns.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the contact surface S between the metal reconnection layer and the rear electrode is rectangular in shape.