Electrode for photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic cell and photovoltaic module
An electrode for contacting an electrically conductive surface of a photovoltaic element includes an electrically insulating optically transparent film, an adhesive layer provided on a planar surface of the film, and a plurality of substantially parallel, electrically conductive wires embedded into the adhesive layer. The plurality of wires lies over the planar surface of the film. A part of the surfaces of the wires protrude from the adhesive layer. At least the part of the surfaces protruding from the adhesive layer are covered by a coating consisting of an alloy having a low melting point to solder the wires to the electrically conductive surface and to a first terminal bar. The adhesive layer has a thickness less that a thickness of the wires embedded therein.
1. An electrode for contacting an electrically conductive surface of a photovoltaic element, the electrode comprising:
an electrically insulating optically transparent film;
an adhesive layer provided on a planar surface of said film; and
a plurality of substantially parallel, electrically conductive wires embedded into said adhesive layer, wherein said plurality of wires lies over said planar surface of said film and wherein said adhesive layer has a thickness less than a thickness of said wires embedded therein, wherein a part of the surfaces of said wires protrudes from the adhesive layer and wherein at least said part of the surfaces protruding from said adhesive layer are covered by a coating consisting of an alloy having a low melting point, to facilitate soldering said wires to said electrically conductive surface and to a first terminal bar.
2. The electrode according to claim 1 , further comprising an outer plurality of substantially parallel wires extending generally perpendicularly to said plurality of wires embedded into said adhesive layer to form a wire mesh and wherein said outer wires are operably configured for soldering to a second terminal bar.
3. The electrode according to claim 2 , wherein said first and second terminal bars are electrically connected to each other.
4. The electrode according to claim 2 , wherein said terminal bars are provided at respective ends of said wires embedded into said adhesive layer and said outer wires.
5. The electrode according to claim 4 , wherein said terminal bars are disposed outside a contour of the photovoltaic element.
6. The electrode according to claim 5 , wherein said terminal bars extend a length of two adjacent photovoltaic elements to be connected and a step is provided in a center of said terminal bars, so that a plurality of terminal bars can be fit together forming one row, in which one half of a terminal bar is arranged below or above a lower or upper half, respectively, of a neighbouring terminal bar, and wherein an insulating film is provided between neighbouring terminal bars.
7. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said wires embedded into said adhesive layer extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said film.
8. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said wires embedded into said adhesive layer extend generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of said film.
9. The electrode of claim 2 wherein said outer wires extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said film.
10. The electrode of claim 2 wherein said outer wires are soldered to said wires embedded into said adhesive layer.
11. The electrode of claim 2 wherein said outer wires have portions embedded into said adhesive layer.
12. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said adhesive layer has a thickness less than a thickness of said wires embedded therein.
13. The electrode of claim 1 further comprising the first terminal bar electrically soldered to said wires embedded into said adhesive layer and extending transversely to said wires.
14. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said film is sufficiently thick to be drawn and to support said adhesive layer and wherein said film is sufficiently thin to have elasticity.
15. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said film has a thickness of between about 10 micrometers to about 50 micrometers.
16. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said coating is on the entire surfaces of said wires operable to be soldered onto the electrically conductive surface of the photovoltaic element.
17. An electrode for contacting an electrically conductive surface of a photovoltaic element, the electrode comprising:
an electrically insulating optically transparent film;
an adhesive layer provided on a planar surface of said film; and
a plurality of substantially parallel, electrically conductive wires having lengthwise surfaces, said plurality of wires being embedded into said adhesive layer, wherein said plurality of wires lies over said planar surface of said film and wherein said adhesive layer has a thickness less than a thickness of said wires embedded therein, wherein a part of the lengthwise surfaces of said wires protrudes from the adhesive layer and wherein at least said part of the surfaces protruding from said adhesive layer are covered by a coating consisting of an alloy having a low melting point, to facilitate soldering said wires to said electrically conductive surface.