Multi-junction solar cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11205732-B2
Application number	US-201916691791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2019
Priority date	Sep 19, 2014
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a multi-junction solar cell includes a first solar cell, a second solar cell, and an insulating layer. The first solar cell includes a first photoelectric conversion element. The second solar cell is connected in parallel with the first solar cell. The second solar cell includes multiple second photoelectric conversion elements connected in series. The insulating layer is provided between the first solar cell and the second solar cell. The second photoelectric conversion element includes a p-electrode and an n-electrode. The p-electrode is connected to a p+-region including a surface on a side opposite to a light incident surface. The n-electrode is connected to an n+-region including the surface on the side opposite to the light incident surface. The p-electrodes oppose each other or the n-electrodes oppose each other in a region where the multiple second photoelectric conversion elements are adjacent to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi junction solar cell, comprising:
a first solar cell including a first photoelectric conversion element;
a second solar cell connected in parallel with the first solar cell, the second solar cell including a plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements connected in series with each other;
an insulating layer provided between the first solar cell and the second solar cell; and
an interconnect portion,
one of the second photoelectric conversion elements being closest to an other one of the second photoelectric conversion elements among the second photoelectric conversion elements,
a direction from the one of the second photoelectric conversion elements toward the other one of the second photoelectric conversion elements being along a first direction,
the one of the second photoelectric conversion elements including
a first region of a first conductivity type,
a second region of a second conductivity type,
a first electrode connected with the first region, the first electrode including first finger parts extending along a second direction crossing the first direction, and
a second electrode connected with the second region, the second electrode including second finger parts and a first part connected with the second finger parts, the second finger parts extending along the second direction, one of the second finger parts being between one of the first finger parts and an other of the first finger parts, the other of the first finger parts being between the one of the second finger parts and an other of the second finger parts, the first part being provided surrounding the first electrode in a plane including the first direction and the second direction, each of the first finger parts surrounded by the first part being interconnected,

the other one of the second photoelectric conversion elements including
a third region of the first conductivity type,
a fourth region of the second conductivity type,
a third electrode connected with the third region, the third electrode including third finger parts extending along the second direction, and
a fourth electrode connected with the fourth region, the fourth electrode including fourth finger parts and a second part connected with the fourth finger parts, the second part being discontinuous with the first part and apart from the first part, the fourth finger parts extending along the second direction, one of the fourth finger parts being between one of the third finger parts and an other of the third finger parts, the other of the third finger parts being between the one of the fourth finger parts and an other of the fourth finger parts, the second part surrounding the third electrode in the plane, each of the third finger parts surrounded by the second part being interconnected,

the interconnect portion connecting the one of the first finger parts with the second part;
a part of the interconnect portion overlaps at least a part of the first part in a direction crossing the plane.

2. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein
the other one of the second photoelectric conversion elements further includes an insulating film provided between the interconnect portion and the at least a part of the first part.

3. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein
one portion of the plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements is connected in series in the first direction, and
one other portion of the plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements is connected in series in an other direction different from the first direction.

4. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein
the first solar cell includes multiple first photoelectric conversion elements, and
the multiple first photoelectric conversion elements are connected in series.

5. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 4 , wherein
a photoelectric conversion layer included in the first photoelectric conversion element includes CuGa(S, Se) 2 , and
a group of the multiple first photoelectric conversion elements connected in series is connected in parallel with another group of the multiple first photoelectric conversion elements connected in series.

6. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion element includes at least one of a chalcopyrite compound, a stannite compound, or a kesterite compound.

7. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein
the first region is located between the first electrode and the insulating layer,
the second region is located between the second electrode and the insulating layer,
the third region is located between the third electrode and the insulating layer, and
the fourth region is located between the fourth electrodes and the insulating layer.

8. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein
the first region, the second region, the third region, and the fourth region extend in the second direction.

9. The multi junction solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein
the second finger parts and the first finger parts are interdigitated, and
the fourth finger parts and the third finger parts are interdigitated.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Shibasaki Soichiro
• Hiraga Hiroki
• Saito Hitomi
• Nakagawa Naoyuki
• Yamazaki Mutsuki
• Yamamoto Kazushige

Classifications

• H10W90/00

  Package configurations · CPC title

• Y02E10/541

  CuInSe2 material PV cells · CPC title

• H10F10/167

  comprising Group I-III-VI materials, e.g. CdS/CuInSe2 [CIS] heterojunction photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F10/146

  Back-junction photovoltaic cells, e.g. having interdigitated base-emitter regions on the back side · CPC title

• H10F10/19 Primary

  Photovoltaic cells having multiple potential barriers of different types, e.g. tandem cells having both PN and PIN junctions · CPC title