PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
An example of an apparatus to generate electricity from light with photovoltaic cells is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells. The plurality of photovoltaic cells is to form a module. Furthermore, the apparatus includes an electro-conductive backsheet to connect the plurality of photovoltaic cells. The electro-conductive backsheet is to collect current from the plurality of photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is formed on a silicon wafer by cutting along a { 100 } plane to provide a substantially square wafer and cleaving the substantially square wafer along a preferred cleavage plane.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic cells is to form a module; and
an electro-conductive backsheet to connect the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the electro-conductive backsheet is to collect current from the plurality of photovoltaic cells,
wherein each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is formed on a silicon wafer by:
cutting along a { 100 } plane to provide a substantially square wafer; and
cleaving the substantially square wafer along a preferred cleavage plane to form each photovoltaic cell.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 110 } plane.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 111 } plane.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is substantially triangular.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electro-conductive backsheet is flexible.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the electro-conductive backsheet is a foil.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is a back-contact cell.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rail, wherein the module is to be mounted on the rail.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the module is substantially rectangular.
10 . A photovoltaic cell comprising:
a silicon wafer base;
a first edge cut along a first { 100 } plane of the silicon wafer base;
a second edge cut along a second { 100 } plane of the silicon wafer base; and
a third edge cleaved along a preferred cleavage plane of the silicon wafer base, wherein the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge to provide a shape to tessellate with additional photovoltaic cells to form a module.
11 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 10 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 110 } plane.
12 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 10 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 111 } plane.
13 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 10 , wherein the shape is substantially triangular.
14 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 13 , further comprising a via to connect a frontside of the silicon wafer base to a backside of the silicon wafer base.
15 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of back contacts to connect with an electro-conductive backsheet.
16 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of back contacts is to electrically connect with external back contacts of a second photovoltaic cell to provide a target power.
17 . A method comprising:
forming a photovoltaic cell on a silicon wafer;
cutting the silicon wafer along a { 100 } plane to provide a substantially square wafer;
cleaving the substantially square wafer along a preferred cleavage plane to form photovoltaic cells to tessellate with additional photovoltaic cells to form a module; and
arranging a plurality of photovoltaic cells to form the module.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein cleaving along the preferred cleavage plane comprises cleaving along a { 110 } plane.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein cleaving along the preferred cleavage plane comprises cleaving along a { 111 } plane.
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24 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising connecting the plurality of photovoltaic cells with an electro-conductive backsheet.
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