Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Panel or array
Patent
1989-01-27
1990-09-11
Weisstuch, Aaron
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Panel or array
136258, H01L 3105
Patent
active
049560239
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an integrated solar cell device wherein many small size solar cells formed on a transparent substrate are connected in series or series-parallel therewith, and to a manufacturing method thereof.
Until now integrated solar cell devices, wherein many small size solar cells formed on a transparent substrate are connected in series or series-parallel are made by laminating a transparent electrode comprising indium-tin oxide (hereinafter referred to as ITO), tin oxide (hereinafter referred to as SnO.sub.2) or the like on the surface of a light impinging side laminated with a metal electrode comprising aluminum, copper or the like on the opposite solar cell surface; and by constituting series connections between the transparent electrode of a solar cell and the metal electrode of another solar cell.
In the above mentioned solar cell device, the transparent electrode comprising ITO, SnO.sub.2 or the like is an oxide, such that the component parts of the transparent electrode can oxidize the metal electrode via a part to which the transparent electrode is contacted the cell if left over for a long time period. As a result, the contact resistance of the part increases.
Thus, there is a problem that the output of the solar cell device decreases when the resistance of the series connected parts thereof increases.
Further, there is a problem that the output characteristic is lowered due to oxidation of the metal layer to which the transparent electrode is connected making an electrical connection when the solar cell device made by the above-mentioned method is used under high temperature. Particularly, when a metal which is liable to be oxidized is employed, the output characteristic of a solar cell device is considerably lowered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An integrated solar cell device of the present invention has an anti-oxidation film formed at the series connection points of the transparent electrodes laminated on the light impinging side of a solar cell, and a metal electrode on the opposite side of a solar cell so that the transparent electrode is prevented from oxidizing the metal electrode even if the solar cell device is used at high temperatures. As a result, the contact resistance is prevented from increasing and the output of the solar cell device can be prevented from decreasing. Consequently, the life of solar cell device is extended, so that the output of the solar cell device can be maintained in the designed range for a long period.
The above-mentioned drawbacks being taken into consideration, an integrated solar cell device of the present invention comprises a plurality of solar cells of which a light impinging surface having a transparent electrode and the opposite surface having a metal electrode are arranged on a transparent substrate, wherein the solar cells are connected in series or series-parallel by suitably connecting the transparent electrodes and the metal electrodes. This is characterized in that anti-oxidation films having electric conductivity are provided at least at the places where the transparent electrodes and the metal electrode are connected.
In the integrated solar cell device of the present invention having the above-mentioned construction, the present invention is intended to prevent the output of the solar cell device from decreasing by providing the anti-oxidation films between the metal electrodes and the transparent electrodes.
The anti-oxidation films may be made separately as is mentioned above, or may be made by varying the metal component ratio in the transparent electrodes.
Specifically, the anti-oxidation films are made by means whereby the metal component of the transparent electrodes at least in the neighborhood of metal electrodes is increased as compared with other regions. It is made by increasing the metal component of the subsurface layer of the transparent electrodes via a reduction of the metal oxide, or by increasing the metal component of the subsurface layer of the transparent electrodes whi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4532371 (1985-07-01), Hanak et al.
patent: 4623751 (1986-11-01), Kishi et al.
patent: 4675466 (1987-06-01), Ramaprasad
Endo Toshihito
Kobayashi Kenji
Tawada Yoshihisa
Tsuge Kazunori
Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo & Kabushiki Kaisha
Weisstuch Aaron
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