Electrode assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12563860-B2
Application number	US-202118260002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2021
Priority date	Dec 30, 2020
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

An electrode assembly (100) for a solar cell. The electrode assembly comprises an insulating optically transparent film (101) comprising a plurality of perforations (103) formed therein, and a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced conductive wire portions (102) arranged side by side on a surface of the film. One or more of the perforations are formed so as to have at least a portion thereof interposed laterally between two wire portions of the plurality of wire portions. The perforations formed in the film may reduce losses that would otherwise occur due to absorption of light by the film. Also disclosed is a solar cell (107) that includes the electrode assembly described above, a method of forming the electrode assembly, a method of forming the solar cell, and a method of forming a solar module.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An electrode assembly for a solar cell, the electrode assembly comprising:
a film comprising a plurality of perforations formed therein and a plurality of longitudinally extending unperforated regions, wherein the film is insulating and optically transparent; a plurality of wire portions, wherein each of the wire portions of the plurality of wire portions are longitudinally extending, laterally spaced conductive wire portions arranged side by side on a surface of the film; and wherein one or more of the plurality of perforations are formed so as to have at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality of perforations interposed laterally between two wire portions of the plurality of wire portions, and wherein the plurality of wire portions are arranged on the plurality of longitudinally extending unperforated regions of the film.

2 . An electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a plurality of wire regions on which the plurality of wire portions are arranged and a plurality of non-wire regions, wherein a non-wire region of the plurality of non-wire regions is between each of the wire regions of the plurality of wire regions, and wherein the plurality of wire regions of the film have a lower open area ratio than the plurality of non-wire regions of the film.

3 . An electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a perforated area of the film is greater than 50% of a total area of the film.

4 . An electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a plurality of transverse bridges connecting adjacent pairs of longitudinal regions.

5 . An electrode assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more reflective elements, each reflective element of the one or more reflective elements arranged so as to be superimposed over a wire portion of the plurality of wire portions.

6 . An electrode assembly according to claim 5 , wherein each reflective element of the one or more reflective elements is configured to increase the reflection angle of light incident to the electrode assembly.

7 . An electrode assembly according to claim 5 , wherein each reflective element comprises a reflection surface that is planar.

8 . An electrode assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the reflection surface of each reflective element is obliquely oriented with respect to non-wire regions of the film.

9 . An electrode assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the reflection surface of each reflective element is a first reflection surface and each reflective element further comprises a second planar reflection surface, the first and second reflection surfaces oriented so as to be angled towards one another.

10 . An electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the film is a unitary film formed of a single layer.

11 . An electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the film is in direct contact with the plurality of wire portions arranged on the film.

12 . A solar cell comprising:
a layered structure comprising a photovoltaic element; a plurality of conductive elements arranged on a surface of the layered structure; and an electrode assembly comprising:
an insulating optically transparent film comprising a plurality of perforations formed therein and a plurality of longitudinally extending unperforated regions; and
a plurality of wire portions, wherein each of the wire portions of the plurality of wire portions are longitudinally extending, laterally spaced conductive wire portions arranged side by side on a surface of the film;
wherein one or more of the perforations are formed so as to have at least a portion thereof interposed laterally between two wire portions of the plurality of wire portions, and wherein the electrode assembly is arranged on the plurality of conductive elements such that the conductive wire portions are in ohmic contact with the plurality of conductive elements, and
wherein the plurality of wire portions are arranged on the plurality of longitudinally extending unperforated regions.

13 . A solar cell according to claim 12 , wherein the layered structure comprises a front surface upon which light is incident in use, and a rear surface opposite the front surface, the electrode assembly arranged on the front surface of the layered structure.

14 . A solar cell according to claim 12 , wherein an encapsulant is received between one or more portions of the film and the layered structure.

15 . A solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the solar cell is a heterojunction solar cell.

16 . A method of forming an electrode assembly for a solar cell, the method comprising
arranging a plurality of conductive wire portions on a surface of an insulating optically transparent film having a plurality of perforations and a plurality of longitudinally extending unperforated regions, the arrangement performed such that the plurality of conductive wire portions extend longitudinally, are side by side, and are laterally spaced, wherein the plurality of conductive wire portions are arranged on the plurality of longitudinally extending unperforated regions; and interposing at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of perforations laterally between two wire portions of the plurality of conductive wire portions.

17 . A method according to claim 16 , further comprising forming spaced longitudinal rows of perforations.

18 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein arranging the plurality of conductive wire portions on the surface of the film comprises arranging each wire portion between two spaced longitudinal rows of perforations.

19 . A method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of conductive elements arranged on a layered structure comprising a photovoltaic element; and arranging the electrode assembly on the plurality of conductive elements, such that the plurality of conductive wire portions of the electrode assembly are in ohmic contact with the plurality of conductive elements.

20 . A method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
introducing an encapsulant between the film and layered structure of each solar cell via the plurality of perforations formed in the film of each solar cell.

21 . An electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of perforations are arranged in rows, each row comprising a plurality of spaced perforations and extending longitudinally along the film parallel to the plurality of wire portions, and wherein each row is interposed between two wire portions.

Assignees

• Rec Solar Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Wu Meng Hsiu

Classifications

• H10F10/166

  the Group IV-IV heterojunctions being heterojunctions of crystalline and amorphous materials, e.g. silicon heterojunction [SHJ] photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F77/488

  Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection · CPC title

• H10F77/211 Primary

  for photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F19/80

  Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F71/1375

  Apparatus for automatic interconnection of photovoltaic cells in a module · CPC title