# US 9,520,528 B2 · Device and method for restoring silicon-based photovoltaic solar cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,528 B2 - Document ID: US9520528B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/428,555 - Filed: 2013-09-16 - Published: 2015-08-20 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-14 - Assignees: Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives - Applicants: Commissariat à L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives - Inventors: Sébastien Dubois; Nicolas Enjalbert; Jean-Paul Garandet; Pierre Gidon; Florent Tanay; Jordi Veirman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520528B2 ## CPC - H10F 71/00: Manufacture or treatment of devices covered by this subclass (patterning processes to connect thin photovoltaic cells in integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/33; manufacture or treatment of encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/80; manufacture or treatment of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00) - H10F 71/134: {Irradiation with electromagnetic or particle radiation} - H10F 10/00: Individual photovoltaic cells, e.g. solar cells (electrolytic light-sensitive devices, e.g. dye-sensitised solar cells, H01G9/20) - H10F 71/121: {The active layers comprising only Group IV materials} - H10F 71/128: {Annealing} - Y02E 10/547: Monocrystalline silicon PV cells - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A restoration device of at least one silicon-based photovoltaic solar cell is provided with a support of the cell and a charge carriers generator configured to generate charge carriers in the photovoltaic solar cell. The device is further provided with a tank designed to be filled by a liquid, and the support is configured to place the photovoltaic solar cell in the liquid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A restoration device of at least one silicon-based photovoltaic solar cell, said device comprising: a support of the photovoltaic solar cell; a charge carriers generator configured so as to generate charge carriers in the photovoltaic solar cell; a tank designed to be filled by a liquid, wherein the liquid is a heat transfer liquid or a soluble cutting oil; and a regulator of a liquid temperature, wherein the regulator is configured to regulate the temperature of the photovoltaic solar cell to a target temperature value or range comprised within the 50° C.-230° C. temperature range, wherein the support is configured to arrange the photovoltaic solar cell in the liquid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tank comprises the regulator of the liquid temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the regulator comprises electric resistance heaters and/or thermoelectric devices arranged in the walls of the tank. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a liquid circulation system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a mechanical stirring system of configured to stir the liquid in the tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, comprising a support movement system configured to move the photovoltaic solar cell in a direction parallel to the surface of the liquid in the tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises pass-through holes so that the liquid is in contact with a surface of the photovoltaic solar cell arranged on the support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the support is made from a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises a light source designed to illuminate the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9 wherein the light source comprises a laser source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises an electric current injecting system configured to inject an electric current into the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid has a boiling temperature strictly higher than 100° C. ### Claim 15 A restoration method of at least one silicon-based photovoltaic solar cell to counteract degradation of the efficiency under illumination, comprising: generating charge carriers in said cell, and immersing the photovoltaic solar cell in a liquid when generation of charge carriers takes place, so as to regulate the temperature of the photovoltaic solar cell to a target temperature value or range comprised within the 50° C.-230° C. temperature range. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The restoration method according to claim 15, wherein the liquid has a boiling temperature strictly higher than 100° C. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The restoration method according to claim 15, wherein the liquid comprises ethylene glycol or glycerol or a soluble cutting oil. ### Claim 18 A restoration device of at least one silicon-based photovoltaic solar cell, said device comprising: a support of the photovoltaic solar cell; a charge carriers generator configured so as to generate charge carriers in the photovoltaic solar cell; a tank designed to be filled by a liquid; and a support movement system configured to move the photovoltaic solar cell in a direction parallel to the surface of the liquid in the tank wherein the support is configured to arrange the photovoltaic solar cell in the liquid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the tank comprises a regulator of a liquid temperature. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device according to claim 19, wherein the regulator is configured to regulate the temperature of the photovoltaic solar cell to a target temperature value or range comprised within the 50° C.-230° C. temperature range. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device according to claim 20, wherein the regulator comprises electric resistance heaters and/or thermoelectric devices arranged in the walls of the tank. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the tank comprises a liquid circulation system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the tank comprises a mechanical stirring system of configured to stir the liquid in the tank. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the support comprises pass-through holes so that the liquid is in contact with a surface of the photovoltaic solar cell arranged on the support. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the support is made from a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises a light source designed to illuminate the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device according to claim 26 wherein the light source comprises a laser source. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The device according to claim 26, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 30 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises an electric current injecting system configured to inject an electric current into the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the liquid has a boiling temperature strictly higher than 100° C. ### Claim 32 A restoration device of at least one silicon-based photovoltaic solar cell, said device comprising: a support of the photovoltaic solar cell; a charge carriers generator configured so as to generate charge carriers in the photovoltaic solar cell; and a tank designed to be filled by a liquid, wherein the support is configured to arrange the photovoltaic solar cell in the liquid, and the support comprising pass-through holes so that the liquid is in contact with a surface of the photovoltaic solar cell arranged on the support. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The device according to claim 32, wherein the tank comprises a regulator of a liquid temperature. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The device according to claim 33, wherein the regulator is configured to regulate the temperature of the photovoltaic solar cell to a target temperature value or range comprised within the 50° C.-230° C. temperature range. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The device according to claim 34, wherein the regulator comprises electric resistance heaters and/or thermoelectric devices arranged in the walls of the tank. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The device according to claim 32, wherein the tank comprises a liquid circulation system. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The device according to claim 32, wherein the tank comprises a mechanical stirring system of configured to stir the liquid in the tank. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The device according to claim 32, wherein the support is made from a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The device according to claim 32, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises a light source designed to illuminate the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39 wherein the light source comprises a laser source. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The device according to claim 40, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 43 (depends on 32) The device according to claim 32, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises an electric current injecting system configured to inject an electric current into the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 44 (depends on 32) The device according to claim 32, wherein the liquid has a boiling temperature strictly higher than 100° C. ### Claim 45 A restoration device of at least one silicon-based photovoltaic solar cell, said device comprising: a support of the photovoltaic solar cell; a charge carriers generator configured so as to generate charge carriers in the photovoltaic solar cell; and a tank designed to be filled by a liquid, wherein the support is configured to arrange the photovoltaic solar cell in the liquid, and the support is made from a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The device according to claim 45, wherein the tank comprises a regulator of a liquid temperature. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The device according to claim 46, wherein the regulator is configured to regulate the temperature of the photovoltaic solar cell to a target temperature value or range comprised within the 50° C.-230° C. temperature range. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The device according to claim 47, wherein the regulator comprises electric resistance heaters and/or thermoelectric devices arranged in the walls of the tank. ### Claim 49 (depends on 45) The device according to claim 45, wherein the tank comprises a liquid circulation system. ### Claim 50 (depends on 45) The device according to claim 45, wherein the tank comprises a mechanical stirring system of configured to stir the liquid in the tank. ### Claim 51 (depends on 45) The device according to claim 45, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises a light source designed to illuminate the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The device according to claim 51 wherein the light source comprises a laser source. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The device according to claim 52, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 54 (depends on 51) The device according to claim 51, comprising an optic system arranged between the light source and the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 55 (depends on 45) The device according to claim 45, wherein the charge carriers generator comprises an electric current injecting system configured to inject an electric current into the photovoltaic solar cell. ### Claim 56 (depends on 45) The device according to claim 45, wherein the liquid has a boiling temperature strictly higher than 100° C.