Solar cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016104807-A1
Application number	US-201414892177-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2014
Priority date	Jun 20, 2013
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solar cell includes a support substrate; a back electrode layer on the a support substrate; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; a buffer layer on the light absorbing layer; a front electrode layer on the buffer layer; and a fourth through hole formed through the back electrode layer, the light absorbing layer, the buffer layer and the front electrode layer, wherein at least a portion of the fourth through hole is inclined with respect to a top surface of the support substrate.

First claim

1 . A solar cell comprising:
a support substrate; a back electrode layer on the support substrate; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; a buffer layer on the light absorbing layer; a front electrode layer on the buffer layer; and a fourth through hole formed through the back electrode layer, the light absorbing layer, the buffer layer and the front electrode layer, wherein at least a portion of the fourth through hole is inclined with respect to a top surface of the support substrate.

2 . The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first through hole formed through the back electrode layer; a second through hole formed through the light absorbing layer and the buffer layer; and a third through hole formed through the light absorbing layer, the buffer layer and the front electrode layer.

3 . The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the fourth through hole is formed in a direction different from a direction of at least one of the first through hole, the second through hole and the third through hole.

4 . The solar cell of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first to third through holes is formed in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the support substrate.

5 . The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the fourth through hole has a width gradually enlarged in a direction from the support substrate to the front electrode layer.

6 . The solar cell of claim 5 , wherein the fourth through hole has an inclination angle in a range of about 130° to about 170°.

7 . The solar cell of claim 2 , wherein the fourth through hole has a width gradually narrowed in a direction from the support substrate to the front electrode layer.

8 . The solar cell of claim 7 , wherein the fourth through hole has an inclination angle in a range of about 40° to about 80°.

9 . The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the fourth through hole comprises:
a first surface perpendicular to the top surface of the support substrate, and a second surface extending from the first surface and inclined with respect to the top surface of the support substrate.

10 . The solar cell of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first through hole formed through the back electrode layer; a second through hole formed through the light absorbing layer and the buffer layer; and a third through hole formed through the light absorbing layer, the buffer layer and the front electrode layer.

11 . The solar cell of claim 10 , wherein the fourth through hole is formed in a direction different from a direction of at least one of the first through hole, the second through hole and the third through hole.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The solar cell of claim 9 , wherein the fourth through hole has a width gradually enlarged in a direction from the support substrate to the front electrode layer.

14 . The solar cell of claim 9 , wherein the second surface is inclined with respect to the top surface of the support substrate by an inclination angle in a range of about 130° to about 170°.

15 . A solar cell comprising:
a support substrate; a back electrode layer on the support substrate; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; a buffer layer on the light absorbing layer; a front electrode layer on the buffer layer; and an exposure surface exposing the back electrode layer, the light absorbing layer, the buffer layer and the front electrode layer, wherein at least a portion of the exposure surface is inclined with respect to a top surface of the support substrate.

16 . The solar cell of claim 15 , wherein the exposure surface exposes a lateral surface of the back electrode layer, the light absorbing layer, the buffer layer and the front electrode layer.

17 . The solar cell of claim 15 , wherein the exposure surface creates an edge part of the solar cell.

18 . The solar cell of claim 15 , wherein the exposure surface has an inclination angle in a range of about 40° to about 80°.

19 . The solar cell of claim 15 , wherein the exposure surface has an inclination angle in a range of about 130° to about 170°.

20 . The solar cell of claim 15 , wherein the exposure surface comprises:
a first exposure surface perpendicular to the top surface of the support substrate; and a second exposure surface extending from the first surface and inclined with respect to the top surface of the support substrate.

21 . The solar cell of claim 20 , wherein the second exposure surface is inclined with respect to the top surface of the support substrate by an inclination angle in a range of about 130° to about 170°.

Assignees

• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jeong Jong Seon

Classifications

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• H10F19/33 Primary

  Patterning processes to connect the photovoltaic cells, e.g. laser cutting of conductive or active layers · CPC title

• H10F77/211 Primary

  for photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F10/00 Primary

  Individual photovoltaic cells, e.g. solar cells (electrolytic light-sensitive devices, e.g. dye-sensitised solar cells, H01G9/20) · CPC title

• H01L31/022425 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic