Systems and processes for bifacial collection and tandem junctions using a thin-film photovoltaic device
View Patent ↗A thin-film photovoltaic device includes a semi-transparent back contact layer. The semi-transparent back contact layer includes a semi-transparent contact layer and a semi-transparent contact interface layer. The thin-film photovoltaic device may be formed in a substrate or superstrate configuration. A tandem thin-film photovoltaic device includes a semi-transparent interconnect layer. The semi-transparent interconnect layer includes a semi-transparent contact layer and a semi-transparent contact interface layer.
1. A tandem thin-film photovoltaic device, comprising:
a substrate;
a back contact layer disposed on the substrate;
a bottom solar absorber layer disposed on the back contact layer;
a bottom heterojunction partner layer disposed on the bottom solar absorber layer;
a semi-transparent interconnect layer, including:
a semi-transparent contact layer disposed on the bottom heterojunction partner layer, and
a semi-transparent contact interface layer including a Cu(X)Te 2 material disposed on the semi-transparent contact layer, wherein X is at least one of In, Ga, and Al;
a top solar absorber layer disposed on the semi-transparent interconnect layer, the top solar absorber layer including one of a Group I-III-VI.sub.2 material and a Group II-VI material;
a top heterojunction partner layer disposed on the top solar absorber layer; and
a semi-transparent top contact layer disposed on the top heterojunction partner layer.
2. The tandem thin-film photovoltaic device of claim 1 , the semi-transparent interconnect layer comprising a plurality of contacts.
3. The tandem thin-film photovoltaic device of claim 1 , the substrate comprising at least one of silicone resin, silicone, reinforced silicone, reinforced silicone resin, high temperature polyimide, metal foil, insulated metal foil, and glass.
4. The tandem thin-film photovoltaic device of claim 1 , the semi-transparent contact layer comprising at least one of a transparent conductive oxide, a stannate, and a transparent layer with carbon nanotubes.
5. The tandem thin-film photovoltaic device of claim 1 , the top solar absorber layer comprising at least one of a surface and a near surface region that is n-type.
6. The tandem thin-film photovoltaic device of claim 1 , further comprising a buffer layer disposed between the top heterojunction partner layer and the semi-transparent top contact layer.
7. The tandem thin-film photovoltaic device of claim 1 , further comprising a buffer layer disposed between the bottom heterojunction partner layer and the semi-transparent interconnect layer.