IP Library Granted Patent US 9,000,291
Granted Patent B2
US 9,000,291 · App. 12/870,242 · Granted Apr 7, 2015

Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,000,291
App. No.
12/870,242
Granted
Apr 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The solar cell includes a first conductive type substrate, an emitter layer of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type, the emitter layer and the substrate forming a p-n junction, a plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to the emitter layer, at least one current collector connected to the plurality of first electrodes, and a second electrode electrically connected to the substrate. Each of the plurality of first electrodes includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer on the first electrode layer. The at least one current collector includes a plurality of first current collector layers having a plurality of first portions and at least one second current collector layer on the plurality of first current collector layers.

Claims (31)

1. A solar cell, comprising:

a first conductive type substrate;

an emitter layer of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type, the emitter layer and the substrate forming a p-n junction, the emitter layer being positioned on a first surface of the substrate;

a plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to the emitter layer;

at least one current collector connected to the plurality of first electrodes; and

a second electrode electrically connected to the substrate, the second electrode being positioned on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface of the substrate,

wherein each of the plurality of first electrodes comprises a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer positioned on an upper part and lateral surfaces of the first electrode layer,

each of the at least one current collector comprises a first current collector layer and at least one second current collector layer positioned on the first current collector layer,

the first current collector layer includes a plurality of first portions and the at least one second current collector layer is positioned on the plurality of first portions,

the at least one second current collector layer is positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions, on upper parts of the plurality of first portions, and on lateral surfaces of the plurality of first portions positioned at edges of the at least one first current collector layer, and

the plurality of first portions are positioned to be spaced apart from each other within the at least one second current collector layer.

2. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein a width ratio of each of the plurality of first electrodes to the at least one current collector is approximately 1:200 to 1:370.

3. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first electrode layer is approximately 50% to 150% of a width of the second electrode layer excluding the first electrode layer from the first electrode.

4. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode layer has a width of approximately 30 μm to 80 μm.

5. The solar cell of claim 4 , wherein the first electrode layer and the first portion each have a height of approximately 7 μm to 10 μm.

6. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the first portions has a width of approximately 30 μm to 200 μm.

7. The solar cell of claim 6 , wherein the first electrode layer and the first portion each have a height of approximately 7 μm to 10 μm.

8. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first portions extend in a direction crossing the plurality of first electrode layers.

9. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of first portions extend substantially parallel to one another.

10. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of first portions are positioned on the same level layer as the plurality of first electrode layers.

11. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein a distance between two adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions is approximately 20 μm to 100 μm.

12. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second current collector layer is positioned on upper parts and lateral surfaces of the plurality of first portions.

13. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first current collector layer further comprises at least one second portion for connecting the plurality of first portions to one another.

14. The solar cell of claim 13 , wherein the at least one second portion extends in a direction crossing the plurality of first portions.

15. The solar cell of claim 14 , wherein the at least one second portion is positioned on the same level layer as the plurality of first portions.

16. The solar cell of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of first portions are positioned on the same level layer as the first electrode layers.

17. The solar cell of claim 13 , wherein the at least one second current collector layer is positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of first portions, on upper parts of the plurality of first portions, on an upper part of the at least one second portion, on lateral surfaces of the plurality of first portions positioned at edges of the at least one first current collector layer, and on a lateral surface of the at least one second portion.

18. The solar cell of claim 13 , wherein the at least one second current collector layer is positioned on upper parts of the plurality of first portions, an upper part of the at least one second portion, lateral surfaces of the plurality of first portions, and a lateral surface of the at least one second portion.

19. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode layer is connected to the at least one second current collector layer.

20. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode layer and the first current collector layer are formed of the same material, and the second electrode layer and the second current collector layer are formed of the same material.

21. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first current collector layer and the at least one second current collector layer directly contacts the emitter layer.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2024
From: SHANGRAO XINYUAN YUEDONG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.
To: TRINA SOLAR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066831/0802 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 19, 2023
From: SHANGRAO JINKO SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
To: SHANGRAO XINYUAN YUEDONG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD
Reel/Frame 066078/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2022
From: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
To: SHANGRAO JINKO SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 061572/0487 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2010
From: LEE, JINHYUNG; AHN, JUNYONG; LEE, YOUNGHYUN
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 024938/0812 →