Patent Application
20110174355
The invention relates to a solar cell, in particular, to the interconnection in a solar-cell module.
Solar cells typically consist of a semiconductor structure that has a base and an emitter area. In the semiconductor structure, light is typically coupled via the front side of the solar cell, so that after absorption of the coupled light, a generation of electron-hole pairs takes place in the solar cell. A pn-junction is formed between the base and emitter area, with the generated charge-carrier pairs being separated at this pn-junction. Furthermore, a solar cell comprises a metallic emitter contact and also a metallic base contact that are each connected in an electrically conductive way to the emitter and to the base, respectively. By means of these metallic contacts, the charge carriers separated at the pn-junction can be discharged and thus fed to an external circuit or to an adjacent solar cell in the case of module interconnection.
Different solar-cell structures are known, wherein the present invention relates to those solar-cell structures in which both the metallic emitter contact and also the metallic base contact are arranged on one contacting side of the solar cell, typically the back side of the solar cell. This stands in contrast to standard solar cells in which typically the metallic emitter contact lies on the front side and the metallic base contact lies on the back side of the solar cell.
Solar cells in which the metallic emitter contact and base contact are arranged on one contacting side have the advantage that they can be contacted on one side, i.e., they can be connected to other solar cells in a module or to an external circuit by interconnections on only one side of the solar cell.
Such solar cells that can be contacted on one side typically have, on the back side, comb-like, interdigitated metallization structures, wherein a first comb-like metallization structure is connected in an electrically conductive way to the emitter area and the second metallization structure engaging in the first metallization structure like a comb is connected in an electrically conductive way to the base.
The positive and also the negative charge carriers are guided via the comb-like metallization structures laterally, that is, parallel to the contacting side of the solar cell, to one or more collection points of the metallization structures and tapped there by means of cell connectors or other contacting types.
Such a solar-cell structure is described, for example, in [1] (see “References”).
Starting from here, the present invention is based on the objective of creating a solar cell that can be contacted on one side and a corresponding solar-cell module, wherein the potential for optimization with respect to the efficiency of the solar cell relative to the previously known solar-cell structures should be increased and the failure probability of the solar cell and especially of the solar-cell module due to external influences should be reduced.
This task is achieved by a solar cell and a solar-cell module according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the solar cell and advantageous embodiments of the solar-cell module are described in detail below and in the claims.
The solar cell according to the invention comprises at least one metallic base contact, at least one metallic emitter contact, and also a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure has at least one base area and at least one emitter area.
The base area and emitter area are arranged bordering each other at least partially, so that a pn-junction is formed between the base area and emitter area at least in the boundary area.
The base area and emitter area have opposite doping. Doping types are the n-doping and the opposite p-doping.
Typically, in the solar cell according to the invention, the base area is n-doped and the emitter area is p-doped. An inversion of the doping types also lies within the scope of the invention, that is, a p-doped base and an n-doped emitter.
The semiconductor structure can here consist of a single silicon wafer that has an underlying doping as the base doping and, for example, in a sub-area close to the surface, an emitter with a doping type opposite the doping type of the base doping.
The emitter could be generated, for example, by diffusion of a dopant.
Similarly, other types of semiconductor structures for the construction of a solar cell also lie in the scope of the invention, for example, multi-layer systems in which, for the production on a first layer, a second layer is deposited with different doping, so that a pn-junction or hetero-structures are constructed at the layer boundary between the first and second layer.
The base contact is connected in an electrically conductive way to the base area and the emitter contact is connected in an electrically conductive way to the emitter area.
In the sense of the present application, in the phrase “connected in an electrically conductive way,” those currents or recombination events are neglected that occur at or above a pn-junction. Thus, in the sense of the present application, the emitter area and base area are not connected in an electrically conductive way via the pn-junction and accordingly, the emitter contact is also not connected in an electrically conductive way to the base contact.
In the sense of this application, the phrase “base contact” designates a metallic structure that is connected in an electrically conductive way to a base area. Accordingly, in the sense of this application, “emitter contact” designates a metallic structure that is connected in an electrically conductive way to an emitter area. For electrical connection to the emitter area, an emitter contact has a continuous contact surface between the emitter contact and emitter area and likewise a base contact for the electrical connection to the base area has a continuous contact surface between the base contact and base area.
It is essential that the solar cell according to the invention comprises several metallic emitter contacts that are each connected in an electrically conductive way to at least one emitter area and likewise several metallic base contacts that are each connected in an electrically conductive way, in turn, to at least one base area.
Here, it lies within the scope of the invention that several emitter contacts are connected in an electrically conductive way to an emitter area. Similarly, it lies in the scope of the invention that the solar cell has several emitter areas, wherein each emitter area is connected in an electrically conductive way to one or to several emitter contacts. A corresponding situation applies to the base contacts and the base areas.
Furthermore, it is essential that the emitter contacts are not connected in an electrically conductive way to each other or only via an emitter area and likewise the base contacts are not connected in an electrically conductive way to each other or only via a base area.
If the solar cell according to the invention is constructed such that it has several emitter areas, then the condition named above means that for each arbitrary pair of two emitter contacts it is valid that the two emitter contacts are not connected in an electrically conductive way or only via an arbitrary emitter area. A corresponding situation applies to the base contacts, as long as the solar cell according to the invention has several base areas.
A typical, previously known solar cell that can be contacted on one side comprises, as described before, comb-like, interdigitated metallization structures on the back side, with these structures being connected in an electrically conductive way on one hand to the base and on the other hand to the emitter. Here it is known that an insulating layer that has several recesses is arranged between the metallic contacting structures and the semiconductor surface, with the metallic structures being led through these recesses for contacting the semiconductor lying underneath. In this previously known solar cell, a plurality of emitter contact areas is connected in an electrically conductive way on the semiconductor surface of the emitter area by a metallic structure and similarly a plurality of base contact areas on the corresponding semiconductor surface of the base area are connected in an electrically conductive way by means of another metallic structure.
The solar cell according to the invention differs from this configuration in that the emitter contacts have no electrically conductive connection among each other on the side facing away from the emitter area and the base contacts likewise have no electrically conductive connection on the side facing away from the base area. Thus, in particular, the emitter contacts are not connected in an electrically conductive way among each other by a metallic contact structure and the same applies to the base contacts.
The invention is based on the realization of the applicant that, for the optimization and creation of a solar-cell structure that is not sensitive relative to disruptive influences, the lateral current flow of charge carriers outside of the semiconductor structure is not to be performed in the metallic contact structures of the solar cell, but instead in the external contact structures that are not an integral component of the solar cell, such as, for example, the cell connectors in the module interconnection of the solar cells.
In this way, the advantage is produced that emitter contacts can be optimized only with respect to the contacting properties of the corresponding semiconductor area, that is, in particular, with respect to the contact resistance and a low surface recombination rate in the area of the contacted semiconductor surface and, on the other hand, the lateral current flow takes place outside of the semiconductor structure in additional connection elements, such as, for example, the cell connectors in module interconnection, so that these can be optimized separately for lowest possible losses, such as, for example, ohmic intermediate resistance losses, for the lateral charge-carrier transport.
In addition, the solar cell according to the invention has the advantages that for an external effect that leads to a fracture in the semiconductor structure, as a rule the electrically conductive connection of the emitter contacts to the external connection structures, such as, for example, the cell connectors, remain intact, so that even the areas of the solar cell separated electrically by the fracture in the semiconductor can still contribute to the power generation.
In the solar cells noted above that can be contacted on the back side, a fracture in the semiconductor structure typically likewise leads to a fracture of the comb-like, interdigitated metallic contacting structures on the contacting side of the solar cell, so that the lateral current transport is interrupted, on one hand, by the fracture in the semiconductor structure and, on the other hand, by the fracture in the comb-like metallic connection structure and thus at least parts of the solar cell can no longer contribute to the power generation.
The contacting side is advantageously the back side of the solar cell. This allows a simple module interconnection, as well as the reduction of shading losses on the front side of the solar cell by metallic structures.
Advantageously, the solar cell therefore has a plurality of emitter contacts and/or base contacts according to the construction according to the invention, in particular, at least 10, advantageously at least 100, furthermore, at least 1000 emitter contacts and/or base contacts.
Advantageously, the emitter and the base contacts are arranged and constructed such that the emitter contacts and base contacts are not interdigitated according to the following condition:
The solar cell according to the invention is advantageously constructed such that the emitter contacts are arranged and constructed such that, around each emitter contact, an imaginary convex surface can be defined that completely contains the emitter contact and contains no base contact and also no sub-area of a base contact, and the base contacts are each arranged and constructed such that, around each base contact, an imaginary convex surface can be defined that completely contains the base contact and contains no emitter contact and also no sub-area of an emitter contact.
A surface is then convex when it is applicable for two arbitrary points of the surface that the straight-line connection between these two points lies completely within the surface.
The previously mentioned condition thus defines an advantageous construction of the solar cell according to the invention in which the emitter contact and base contact are not interdigitated. For a construction of emitter contacts and base contacts engaging one in the other there is the risk that a fracture of a solar cell leads to a fractured piece in which there is a contact of one polarity and parts of a contact of the opposite polarity engaging with this contact. Such fractured pieces suffer a loss in efficiency and thus reduce the total efficiency of all fractured pieces. This is ruled out in the mentioned condition.
In the sense of this application, the phrase “completely” with reference to contacts means that the entire metallic contact structure of the contact lies within the imaginary circle or the imaginary surface and not, for example, only a center point of the metallic contact structure.
Advantageously, emitter contacts and/or base contacts are constructed and arranged such that a sufficient density of the contacts is reached on the contacting side of the solar cell. In this way, intermediate resistance losses within the solar cell due to the direct routing of charge carriers are reduced.
The emitter contacts and base contacts are therefore advantageously arranged and constructed such that for each emitter contact it is applicable that at least this complete emitter contact and at least one complete base contact lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d1. An arbitrary emitter contact thus fulfills the condition that it lies completely in an imaginary circle with diameter d1 around this emitter contact and also at least another emitter contact lies completely in this imaginary circle. Accordingly, for each base contact it is applicable that at least this complete base contact and at least one complete emitter contact lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d1.
The diameter d1 is here selected such that a condition according to Formula 1 is fulfilled:
d
1
≦k
1·√{square root over (Ak)} (Formula 1)
with a scaling factor k1 and the surface area AK [cm2] of the contacting side of the solar cell. By specifying the scaling factor k1, for a given surface area of the contacting side AK, an upper limit for the diameter d1 is thus given and thus a minimum density for the previously mentioned contact arrangement, as well as a maximum size for the contact construction.
Studies of the applicant have resulted in that the scaling factor is selected as k1=0.13, advantageously k1=0.06, especially k1=0.03, more advantageously k1=0.014. In this way, a sufficient density of the emitter contacts and base contacts is guaranteed.
The advantageous constructions of the solar cell according to the invention according to the condition with respect to Formula 1 and according to the following conditions with respect to Formulas 2, 3, and 4 are thus such that an imaginary circle with the specified properties for the specified contacts or contact groups must absolutely be able to be defined.
Furthermore it is advantageous to guarantee a sufficient density between the contacts of one polarity, i.e., between the emitter contacts on one side and/or the base contacts on the other side.
Advantageously, the emitter contacts are therefore arranged and constructed such that, for each emitter contact, at least this complete emitter contact and at least one additional complete emitter contact lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d2.
Alternatively or additionally it is advantageous that the base contacts are arranged and constructed such that, for each base contact, at least this complete base contact and at least one additional complete base contact lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d2.
For the previously named conditions with respect to the emitter contacts among each other and/or the base contacts among each other, the diameter d2 is selected such that a condition according to
d
2
≦k
2·√{square root over (Ak)} (Formula 2),
with a scaling factor k2 and the surface area AK [cm2] of the contacting side of the solar cell. Studies of the applicant have resulted in that the scaling factor is advantageously selected as k2=0.26, preferably k2=0.13, especially k2=0.06, more advantageously k2=0.028.
Advantageously, emitter contacts and base contacts are distributed approximately uniformly across the contacting side of the solar cell according to the invention.
Here it is especially advantageous that the emitter contacts and the base contacts are arranged on the intersection points of an imaginary, right-angle lattice, especially a lattice with square cells. Emitter contacts and base contacts are here arranged such that emitter contacts and base contacts alternate along each line of the imaginary lattice. Thus, this has the result that the four closest neighbors for an emitter contact are each base contacts and vice versa.
Typical solar cells have approximately the shape of a flat right parallelepiped and the contacting side correspondingly has a square shape. Advantageously, the solar cell according to the invention has a square contacting side and the previously described imaginary lattice is arranged such that the lattice lines are at an angle of 45° relative to the edges of the contacting side.
Through this arrangement it is possible to connect to each other either a row of base contacts or, in parallel to this, a row of emitter contacts to a metallization line running parallel to an edge of the contacting side. Thus, in this way, through comb-like, interdigitated cell connectors, a contacting of all of the emitter contacts can be carried out via a first comb-like cell connector and a contacting of all of the base contacts can be carried out via a second comb-like cell connector that is interdigitated with the first cell connector.
It likewise lies in the scope of the invention to arrange the lattice lines at a different angle to the edges of the contacting side.
Furthermore, it lies in the scope of the invention that emitter contacts and base contacts are arranged on the intersection points of an imaginary lattice that has diamond-shaped lattice elements. It likewise lies in the scope of the invention to arrange the emitter contacts and base contacts on two separate lattices, i.e., to provide one imaginary lattice for the emitter contacts and one imaginary lattice for the base contacts.
In order to keep intermediate resistance losses low within the solar cell due to the direct routing of charge carriers, it is advantageous that two adjacent emitter contacts have a distance less than 1 cm, especially less than 5 mm.
The same applies for the base contacts: advantageously the base contacts are arranged such that the distance of two adjacent base contacts corresponds to the previously named conditions.
It likewise lies in the scope of the invention to cover the contacting side of the solar cell essentially by the base contacts and/or the emitter contacts, wherein adjacent contacts are separated from each other by narrow intermediate spaces and thus electrically insulated. In particular, it is advantageous that the intermediate spaces between adjacent contacts equal a maximum of 1 cm, especially 5 mm.
Advantageously, the emitter contacts and the base contacts are constructed such that each contact covers a total surface area of less than 16 mm2, advantageously less than 5 mm2, especially less than 1 mm2, more advantageously less than 0.4 mm2. The projection of an arbitrary contact on the contacting side thus covers a surface area less than the listed limits.
In particular, it is advantageous that the emitter contacts and base contacts have approximately circular or approximately square or approximately star-shaped constructions.
In another advantageous embodiment, the contacting side of the solar cell according to the invention is improved with respect to its recombination properties, such that on the contacting side, the semiconductor structure has an electrically non-conductive insulation layer. Advantageously, this insulation layer likewise has passivation properties with respect to the surface recombination of the semiconductor structure. The insulation layer has recesses at the locations of the base contacts and emitter contacts and the base contacts and emitter contacts are arranged on the insulation layer and are led through the recesses of the insulation layer for the electrical contacting of the surface of the semiconductor structure lying underneath.
In this advantageous embodiment, the base contacts and emitter contacts thus penetrate the insulation layer at each of its recesses. The recesses in the insulation layer are advantageously already present before the solar cells are connected to the insulation layer. It likewise lies in the scope of the invention that the insulation layer is arranged on the solar cells first without recesses and the recesses are produced also in the processing step in which the contacts are produced. This is possible, for example, through use of lasers, according to the known method of “Laser Fired Contacts” (LFC), as described in DE 100 46 170 A1. Alternatively, the recesses are produced such that the contacts are first applied to the insulation layer and are heated in a subsequent firing step, so that the insulation layer is penetrated by the contacts and therefore the recesses are produced and the contact connects to the semiconductor in an electrically conductive way.
The contacts are advantageously applied by vacuum deposition, screen printing, sputtering, stencil printing, inkjet printing method, or dispersion. The solar cell according to the invention is suitable, in particular, for production by a screen-printing method, because the dimensions especially of the base contacts are suitable for screen-printing conditions.
Here it is advantageous that the recesses of the insulation layer have a surface area less than 16 mm2, advantageously less than 5 mm2, especially less than 1 mm2, more advantageously less than 0.4 mm2, so that the contact surface area of the metallic base contacts and emitter contacts on the semiconductor surface also has a correspondingly dimensioned surface area. On the insulation layer, however, the surface area of the base contacts and emitter contacts can be selected to be larger, without the surface recombination rate of the semiconductor structure on the contacting side being increased in this way. For the simpler contacting of the base contacts and emitter contacts, it is advantageous that the base contacts and emitter contacts on the insulation layer each cover an area with a surface area less than 16 mm2, advantageously less than 5 mm2, especially less than 1 mm2, more advantageously less than 0.4 mm2. The contacts advantageously cover an approximately circular or approximately square area or an approximately star-shaped area.
It lies in the scope of the invention to construct the solar cell according to the invention with several base areas and/or several emitter areas, wherein at least one base and one emitter area at least partially bordering this base are constructed according to the structure according to the invention.
In the previously described embodiments of the solar cells according to the invention, the base contacts are connected in an electrically conductive way to each other only via the base area of the semiconductor structure and likewise the metallic emitter contacts are connected only via the emitter area of the semiconductor structure.
In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the emitter contacts are divided into groups, wherein each group comprises a number of at least 2 and a maximum of 30, especially a maximum of 20, advantageously a maximum of 10 emitter contacts. The emitter contacts of one group are connected in an electrically conductive way via a metallization; in contrast, the different groups of emitter contacts are not connected in an electrically conductive way among each other or only via an emitter area.
Likewise, the base contacts are divided into groups, wherein each group comprises a number of at least 2 and a maximum of 30, especially a maximum of 20, advantageously a maximum of 10 base contacts. The base contacts of one group connected in an electrically conductive way via a metallization; in contrast, however, the different groups of base contacts are not connected in an electrically conductive way among each other or only via a base area.
Thus, in this advantageous embodiment, only a few base contacts and/or emitter contacts are assembled into one group, however, the fundamental principle of the configuration of the solar cell according to the invention is unchanged. In particular, for this advantageous embodiment, there is only a very low probability that for a fracture of the semiconductor structure, the metallic connection of one group is also broken. As long as the fracture does not damage the metallic connection of one group, in this advantageous embodiment, a fracture also does not result in that significant sub-areas of the solar cell no longer contribute to the power generation.
Also for the advantageous embodiment in which the base contacts and/or emitter contacts are assembled into groups, it is advantageous when the groups have a sufficiently high density on the contacting side of the solar cell.
Advantageously, the groups of the emitter contacts and base contacts are therefore arranged and constructed such that, for each group of emitter contacts, at least this complete group of emitter contacts and at least one complete group of base contacts lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d3 and for each group of base contacts, at least this complete group of base contacts and at least one complete group of emitter contacts lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d3, wherein the diameter d3 is selected such that a condition according to Formula 3 is fulfilled:
d
3
≦k
3·√{square root over (Ak)} (Formula 3),
with a scaling factor k3 and the surface area AK [cm2] of the contacting side of the solar cell. Studies of the applicant have resulted in that the scaling factor is selected to be advantageously k3=0.40, preferably k3=0.26, especially k3=0.10, more advantageously k3=0.056.
Also with respect to groups, here and in the following the phrase “complete” means that the entire metallic structure of one group lies within the imaginary circle and not, for example, only a sub-area or center point of the group. The condition according to the imaginary perimeter thus defines a minimum density with respect to the named groups, as well as a maximum with respect to the dimensions of each group.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when the groups of both polarities, i.e., the groups of the emitter contacts among each other and the groups of the base contacts among each other, have a sufficiently high density on the contacting side of the solar cell:
Advantageously, the groups of the emitter contacts are therefore arranged and constructed such that for each group of emitter contacts, at least this complete group of emitter contacts and at least one additional complete group of emitter contacts lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d4.
Likewise, in this advantageous embodiment, the groups of base contacts are arranged and constructed such that, for each base contact, at least this complete group of base contacts and at least one additional complete group of base contacts lie within an imaginary circle with diameter d4.
For the two previously named conditions with respect to the groups of emitter contacts and/or base contacts among each other, the diameter d4 is selected such that a condition according to Formula 4 is fulfilled:
d
4
≦k
4·√{square root over (Ak)} (Formula 4),
with a scaling factor k4 and the surface area AK [cm2] of the contacting side of the solar cell. Studies of the applicant have resulted in that the scaling factor is advantageously selected as k4=0.80, preferably k4=0.51, especially k4=0.20, more advantageously k4=0.112.
The previously named advantageous arrangements of the emitter contacts and/or base contacts with respect to the imaginary lattice is likewise advantageous for the arrangement of the previously described groups of the emitter contacts and/or base contacts, wherein, in this case, the groups with a reference point predefined for each groups, such as, for example, the geometric center point of a group, lie on the crossing lines of the imaginary lattices.
Advantageously, the groups of the emitter contacts have, among each other, identical geometries, i.e., the metallic structures have identical constructions with respect to their expansion and geometric dimensions. This likewise applies advantageously for the groups of the base contacts among each other and, in particular, the groups of the emitter contacts advantageously have identical constructions like the groups of the base contacts.
Advantageously, all of the emitter contacts and/or all of the base contacts of the solar cell are constructed and/or arranged according to the previously described structure according to the invention. Likewise, however, it lies in the scope of the invention that only one sub-area of the solar cell, i.e., a part of the emitter contacts and/or base contacts is constructed according to the invention. Advantageously, the sub-area on the contacting side of the solar cell in which the emitter contacts and/or base contacts are constructed according to the invention comprises at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, especially at least 95% of the surface area of the contacting side.
The solar cell according to the invention represents a solar cell that can be contacted on one side. The additional design of the solar cell can here be constructed according to already known solar-cell structures that can be contacted on one side, especially according to the basic design of a back-side contact cell (described, for example, in [1]), the basic design of an emitter-wrap-through solar cell (described, for example, in [2]), or a metal-wrap-through solar cell (described, for example, in [3]).
The emitter of the solar cell according to the invention is advantageously generated by diffusion of a dopant into the semiconductor material. Likewise, however, other methods or structures for the construction of the emitter also lie in the scope of the invention. In particular, the use of aluminum as a doping source for generating a p-doping is advantageous, in connection i) on one hand with a vacuum-deposited aluminum layer as dopant source and ii) on the other hand with printed aluminum-containing pastes. In a subsequent firing step (heating of the structure), it can result in ii) a very complex process profile in which a partially molten layer is present that contains aluminum and silicon and in which solidification forms essentially a eutectic mixture. Simultaneously it results in a doping of the semiconductor with aluminum. This process cannot be attributed solely to diffusion, but instead could also be a result of the solidification of the aluminum/silicon mixture. This formation of the emitter is thus especially advantageous for the construction of a solar cell according to the invention starting from an n-doped semiconductor wafer.
The solar cell according to the invention allows novel types of interconnection for combinations of several solar cells in a solar-cell module:
The invention therefore further comprises a solar-cell module.
The solar-cell module according to the invention comprises at least one first and one second solar cell that are each solar cells according to the invention according to at least one of the previously described embodiments.
The first solar cell is arranged in the solar-cell module next to the second solar cell, wherein as is typical in such modular arrangements, each contacting side is arranged in the module lying underneath.
On the contacting side, a cell connector is arranged that is constructed such that the emitter contacts of the first solar cell are connected in an electrically conductive way to the base contacts of the second solar cell. The solar cells are thus connected in series. Likewise, it lies in the scope of the invention to connect the solar cells in parallel, i.e., the emitter contacts of the first solar cell are connected in an electrically conductive way to the emitter contacts of the second solar cell and likewise the base contacts of the first solar cell are connected in an electrically conductive way to the base contacts of the second solar cell.
Advantageously, the cell connector is flexible, in particular, it has a film-like construction. In this way, the risk that the contact to the cell connector is likewise interrupted for a fracture of a solar cell is also reduced, because the cell connector yields to the movement of individual fracture pieces of the solar cell due to the flexibility of the cell connector during a fracture process. Likewise the use of a non-flexible cell connector lies within the scope of the invention, for example, a cell connector constructed like a circuit board.
Advantageously, the solar-cell module comprises at least two solar cells arranged on next to the other like a row and the cell connector has metallization structures that engage in each other like combs and are arranged such that, for solar cells arranged like rows with the contacting side on the cell connector, the emitter contacts of one solar cell are connected in an electrically conductive way to the base contacts of the adjacent solar cell by means of the comb-like metallization structures. The solar cells are thus connected in series. Likewise it lies in the scope of the invention that the metallization structures engaging in each other like combs are arranged such that the solar cells are connected in parallel.
In one advantageous embodiment of the solar-cell module, the cell connector is constructed as an electrically insulating film that has metallic connection structures on both sides. Thus, in this way, the electrical interconnection on the two sides of the films can be selected independently from each other, in particular, crossing of the conductive paths is also possible.
The metallic connection structure of one side of the cell connector is guided onto the other side via recesses of the film and recesses of the metallic connection structure of the opposite side.
The cell connector is constructed such that the film has a first metallic connection structure on the side facing the solar cell for modular interconnection and a second metallic connection structure on the side facing away from the solar cell and the second metallic connection structure is guided through recesses of the film and the first metallic connection structure to the other side.
Advantageously, the second metallic connection structure is guided via solder or conductive adhesive in the described recesses to the other side. The first metallic connection structure is advantageously likewise pre-allocated with solder or conductive adhesive, in order to provide an electrically conductive connection to the solar cell.
The metallic connection structures are arranged such that, for solar cells arranged with the connecting side on the film, the base contacts of the solar cells are each connected in an electrically conductive way via the recesses to the one metallic connection structure and the emitter contacts of the solar cells are each connected in an electrically conductive way to the other metallic connection structure or vice versa.
For simpler component insertion and handling of the solar cells set on the cell connector, it is advantageous when the cell connector has recesses for the application of a vacuum for the component insertion of the cell connector with solar cells.
Here, the solar cells are placed with the contacting side on the corresponding side of the cell connector and on the side of the cell connector opposite the solar cell, a vacuum is established via the recesses, so that the solar cell is suctioned onto the cell connector. In this way, a simple handling of the cell connector is possible together with the solar cell for the production of the solar-cell module. Likewise, a conductive adhesive for the electrical connection of the emitter contacts and base contacts with the metallic structures of the cell connector could be previously deposited on the cell connector and/or the metallic contacts of the solar cell and after component insertion of the cell connector, the application of the vacuum leads to a contact pressure between the cell connector and contacting side of the solar cell, so that a qualitatively high-quality connection is established by means of the conductive adhesive.
Alternatively, in another advantageous embodiment, another connection technology could also be selected, such as, for example, soldering. For this purpose, the cells and/or the cell connector are supplied with solder appropriately in advance and then soldered.
In another advantageous embodiment, the cell connector is constructed as a field from electrically conductive wires arranged essentially in parallel and solar cells are arranged on the wires such that the emitter contacts of one solar cell are connected in an electrically conductive way by the wires to the base contacts of the adjacent solar cell. The connection of the wires to the contacts is realized advantageously via bonding with conductive adhesive, solder, or welding. Likewise, it lies in the scope of the invention to generate a parallel circuit by connecting the contacts of the same polarities of adjacent solar cells.
Other preferred features and embodiments of the solar cell according to the invention and the solar-cell module according to the invention are described below with reference to the figures. Shown each in schematic representation herein are:
The solar cell shown in
The embodiment of the solar cell according to the invention has an n-doped base. Accordingly, in
The emitter contacts and base contacts are arranged on the crossing points of an imaginary, right-angle lattice G that is shown dotted in
In
The circle 9 comprises two emitter contacts (shown with vertical stripes). For the diameter of the circle 9, the contacting side shown in
Accordingly, the circle 8 illustrates the condition that for an emitter contact (shown with vertical stripes), at least one base contact (shown with horizontal stripes) lies within a circle with the diameter of the circle 8, wherein the emitter contact and base contact each lie completely within this circle. An analogous condition applies for the base contacts.
The solar cell according to the invention is formed of an n-doped silicon wafer and thus has an n-doped base area 2. An emitter area 3 that is p-doped was generated by diffusion on the contacting side 1. Another p-doped emitter area 3a was generated by means of diffusion on the front side over the entire surface. This emitter area 3a, however, is not connected to the metallic emitter contacts, it is used only for improving the recombination properties of the front side of the solar cell. Alternatively, for improving the recombination properties of the front side of the solar cell, a so-called “front surface field” is advantageous, i.e., instead of the emitter area 3a, an n-doped area that has a significantly higher doping concentration compared with the base.
The light coupling is carried out across the front side in the solar cell according to the invention. Likewise, light can penetrate into the solar cell via the back side, especially re-reflected IR radiation.
An electrically non-conductive insulation layer 4 that is constructed as a silicon-dioxide layer is deposited on the silicon wafer on the contacting side 1 of the solar cell according to the invention. This insulation layer 4 has recesses that are penetrated by the metallic emitter contacts and base contacts.
Alternatively, a construction of the insulation layer from silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, or as a multi-layer system from the mentioned materials is also advantageous, especially also containing amorphous silicon.
In
The recesses of the insulation layer 4 are approximately circular (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in
On the side of the insulation layer facing away from the semiconductor, the metallic contacts cover a surface area that corresponds at least to the surface area between the metallic contact and semiconductor.
Advantageously, however, the metallic contacts on the side of the insulation layer facing away from the semiconductor cover a larger surface area of the insulation layer. Also here, the metallic contacts have an approximately circular shape and cover a surface area of advantageously at least 1 mm2, especially at least 5 mm2, furthermore at least 10 mm2.
In this way it is guaranteed that, due to the, for example, 1 mm2 large surface area of the metallic contacts, a permanent connection can be achieved with a cell connector for a simultaneously low output resistance.
In
The dashed lines in
The comb-like metallization structures 7a and 7d represent termination connections for each end of a solar-cell row, with each connection being connected to external circuits or other solar-cell rows (so-called “strings”).
The cell connector 7 shown in
In
Likewise, 6 emitter contacts are combined into a group of emitter contacts 11, wherein the individual emitter contacts are connected to each other in an electrically conductive way by a comb-like metallic structure.
In
The circle 12 represents an example in which, within a circle around a group of emitter contacts (shown with vertical stripes), at least one group of base contacts (shown with horizontal stripes) lies, wherein both groups of contacts lie completely within the circle 12.
Accordingly, the circle 13 illustrates the condition that, within the circle 13, a group of emitter contacts and at least one other group of emitter contacts each lie completely. Likewise, one group of base contacts and at least one other group of base contacts each lie completely in another circle with this diameter, wherein, in the illustrated case, both circles are identical for the selected groups.
In
Every five emitter contacts are combined by a cross-like metal structure into a group (solid line) and likewise every five base contacts are combined by a cross-like metal structure into a group (dotted line).
In
For this purpose, two imaginary lattices G5 (dashed lines) and G6 (solid lines) were defined that each have diamond-shaped lattice elements. The emitter contacts each lie on the crossing points of the lattice G5 and the base contacts each lie on the crossing contacts of the lattice G6.
The imaginary lattices G5 and G6 are pushed against each other, so that a hexagonal distribution of the emitter contacts and base contacts is produced.
In
In
Advantageously, initially a conductive adhesive point (designated with reference symbol 14 as an example) is deposited in the middle in each comb-like metallic structure of the groups of emitter contacts and base contacts (10 and 11). This is shown in the first line a) in
Then, as shown in line b), linear cell connectors 7a and 7b are placed above the comb-like metallization structures of the individual groups and the conductive adhesive points, so that, at the conductive adhesive points, there is an electrically conductive connection between the comb-like metallization structures and the cell connectors. The linear cell connector 7b thus contacts the base contacts and the linear cell connector 7a contacts the emitter contacts of the contacting side shown in
Alternatively, it is possible, as shown in line c), to connect the linear cell connector via the entire contact surface to the metallic comb-like structures, for example, by bonding, soldering, or welding.
In
Advantageously, for this purpose, in the middle on the crow's foot-like metallic connection structures, points with conductive adhesive are deposited by which the cell connectors are connected in an electrically conductive way to the metallic crow's foot-like connection structures. Such points are shown in
In
In
In
In
In
[1] Lammert, M. D. and R. J. Schwartz (1977) “The Interdigitated Back Contact Solar Cell: A Silicon Solar Cell for Use in Concentrated Sunlight” Transactions on Electron Devices ED-24 (4): 337-42
[2] Gee, J. M., W. K. Schubert, et al. (1993) “Emitter wrap-through solar cell” Proceedings of the 23rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Louisville, Ky., USA, IEEE, New York, N.Y., USA
[3] Van Kerschaver, E., S. De Wolf, et al. (2000) “Towards back contact silicon solar cells with screen printed metallisation” Proceedings of the 28th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, Anchorage, Ak., USA
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2008 044 910.5 | Aug 2008 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2009/006138 | 8/25/2009 | WO | 00 | 4/1/2011 |
