Photovoltaic module architecture
View Patent ↗Modules are disclosed. The modules can include: a first photovoltaic cell including an electrode; a second photovoltaic cell including an electrode; and an interconnect that connects the electrodes of first and second photovoltaic cells. The interconnect can include: an electrically insulative material adhesive material; and a mesh partially disposed in the adhesive material.
1. A module, comprising:
a first photovoltaic cell including an electrode;
a second photovoltaic cell including an electrode;
an interconnect that connects the electrodes of first and second photovoltaic cells;
a first substrate;
a second substrate; and
a first adhesive material, the first adhesive material being electrically insulative, wherein:
a portion of the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell overlaps a portion of the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell;
the first photovoltaic cell is between the first and second substrates;
the second photovoltaic cell is between the first and second substrates;
a first portion of the first adhesive material is between the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell and the second substrate;
a second portion of the first adhesive material is between the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell and the first substrate;
the interconnect is between the first and second portions of the first adhesive material; and
the interconnect comprises:
a second adhesive material, the second adhesive material being electrically insulative; and
a first mesh partially disposed in the second adhesive material, the first mesh comprising an electrically conductive material.
2. The module of claim 1 , wherein the first mesh is an expanded mesh.
3. The module of claim 1 , wherein the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell is a cathode and the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell is an anode.
4. The module of claim 1 , wherein the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell is a cathode and the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell is a cathode.
5. The module of claim 1 , wherein the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell is an anode and the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell is an anode.
6. The module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second photovoltaic cells share at least one common substrate.
7. The module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third photovoltaic cell including an electrode; and
a second interconnect that connects the electrodes of the second and third photovoltaic cells,
wherein the second interconnect comprises:
a third adhesive material; and
a second mesh partially disposed in the adhesive third material.
8. The module of claim 1 , wherein the module has first and second ends, and the first and second ends are sealed.
9. A module, comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate;
a first photovoltaic cell including:
a cathode;
an anode, the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell and the anode of the first photovoltaic cell being between the first and second substrates; and
a photoactive material between the cathode and the anode of the first photovoltaic cell;
a second photovoltaic cell including:
a cathode;
an anode, the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell being between the first and second substrates; and
a photoactive material between the cathode and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell;
a first adhesive material, the first adhesive material being electrically insulative, the first adhesive material including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell and the second substrate, and the second portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the anode of the second photovoltaic cell and the first substrate; and
an interconnect that connects the cathode of first photovoltaic cell and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell,
wherein the interconnect comprises:
a second adhesive material, the second adhesive material being electrically insulative; and
a mesh partially disposed in the second adhesive material, the mesh being in direct contact with the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell; and
wherein the interconnect is between first and second portions of the first adhesive material.
10. The module of claim 9 , wherein the first mesh comprises an electrically conductive material.
11. The module of claim 9 , wherein the first mesh is an expanded mesh.
12. A module, comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate;
a first photovoltaic cell including:
a cathode;
an anode, the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell and the anode of the first photovoltaic cell being between the first and second substrates; and
a photoactive material between the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell and the anode of the first photovoltaic cell;
a second photovoltaic cell including:
a cathode;
an anode, the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell being between the first and second substrates; and
a photoactive material between the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell;
a first adhesive material, the first adhesive material being electrically insulative, the first adhesive material including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell and the second substrate, and the second portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell and the first substrate; and
an interconnect that connects the cathode of first photovoltaic cell and the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell,
wherein the interconnect comprises:
a second adhesive material, the second adhesive material being electrically insulative; and
a mesh partially disposed in the second adhesive material, the mesh being in direct contact with the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell and the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell; and
wherein the interconnect is between first and second portions of the first adhesive material.
13. The module of claim 12 , wherein the mesh comprises an electrically conductive material.
14. The module of claim 12 , wherein the mesh is an expanded mesh.
15. The module of claim 1 , wherein the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell is electrically connected to the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell.
16. The module of claim 1 , wherein the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell is mechanically connected to the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell.
17. The module of claim 9 , wherein the interconnect electrically connects the cathode of first photovoltaic cell and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell.
18. The module of claim 9 , wherein the interconnect mechanically connects the cathode of first photovoltaic cell and the anode of the second photovoltaic cell.
19. The module of claim 12 , wherein the interconnect electrically connects the cathode of first photovoltaic cell and the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell.
20. The module of claim 12 , wherein the interconnect mechanically connects the cathode of first photovoltaic cell and the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell.
21. The module of claim 1 , wherein the second adhesive material comprises a polymer.
22. The module of claim 9 , wherein the second adhesive material comprises a polymer.
23. The module of claim 12 , wherein the second adhesive material comprises a polymer.
24. A module, comprising:
a first photovoltaic cell including:
a cathode;
an anode; and
a photoactive material between the cathode and the anode;
a second photovoltaic cell including:
a cathode;
an anode; and
a photoactive material between the cathode and the anode;
a first adhesive material, the first adhesive material being electrically insulating, the first adhesive material including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the first electrode and the second substrate, and the second portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the second electrode and the first substrate; and
an interconnect that connects a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being the cathode of first photovoltaic cell or the anode of the first photovoltaic cell, and the second electrode being the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell or the anode of the second photovoltaic cell,
wherein the interconnect comprises:
a second adhesive material, the second adhesive material being electrically insulative; and
an expanded mesh partially disposed in the second adhesive material, the mesh being in direct contact with the first and second electrodes; and
wherein the interconnect is between first and second portions of the first adhesive material.
25. The module of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell overlaps a portion of the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell.
26. The module of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell overlaps a portion of the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell.
27. The module of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell, the first portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the second substrate, the second portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell, and the second portion of the first adhesive material is in direct contact with the first substrate.
28. The module of claim 1 , wherein the interconnect has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the first portion of the first adhesive material, the first side of the interconnect is completely covered by the first portion of the first adhesive material, the second side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the second portion of the first adhesive material, and the second side of the interconnect is completely covered by the second portion of the first adhesive material.
29. The module of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate is parallel to the second substrate, the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell is parallel to the electrode of the second photovoltaic cell, and the electrode of the first photovoltaic cell is parallel to the second substrate.
30. The module of claim 9 , wherein the interconnect has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the first portion of the first adhesive material, the first side of the interconnect is completely covered by the first portion of the first adhesive material, the second side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the second portion of the first adhesive material, and the second side of the interconnect is completely covered by the second portion of the first adhesive material.
31. The module of claim 9 , wherein the first substrate is parallel to the second substrate, the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell is parallel to the anode of the second photovoltaic cell, and the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell is parallel to the second substrate.
32. The module of claim 12 , wherein the interconnect has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the first portion of the first adhesive material, the first side of the interconnect is completely covered by the first portion of the first adhesive material, the second side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the second portion of the first adhesive material, and the second side of the interconnect is completely covered by the second portion of the first adhesive material.
33. The module of claim 12 , wherein the first substrate is parallel to the second substrate, the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell is parallel to the cathode of the second photovoltaic cell, and the cathode of the first photovoltaic cell is parallel to the second substrate.
34. The module of claim 24 , wherein the interconnect has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the first portion of the first adhesive material, the first side of the interconnect is completely covered by the first portion of the first adhesive material, the second side of the interconnect is in direct contact with the second portion of the first adhesive material, and the second side of the interconnect is completely covered by the second portion of the first adhesive material.
35. The module of claim 24 , further comprising first and second substrates, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is between the first and second substrates, the second photovoltaic cell is between the first and second substrates, the first substrate is parallel to the second substrate, the first electrode is parallel to the second electrode, and the first electrode is parallel to the second substrate.