PROTECTION COATING FOR SOLAR CELL WAFERS
A solar module includes solar cells that are encapsulated. A back layer is disposed towards back sides of the solar cells and a transparent layer is disposed towards front sides of the solar cells. A protection coating is formed on a surface of the solar cells. The protection coating can be continuous or have a pattern with cutouts that expose the surface of the solar cells.
1 . A solar module comprising:
a plurality of solar cells, each solar cell of the plurality of solar cells having a protection coating on an outermost surface of the solar cell, the protection coating comprising a polymer and having a pattern with a plurality of cutouts that expose the outermost surface of the solar cell; and
an encapsulant that encapsulates the plurality of solar cells.
2 . The solar module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a back layer that faces towards back sides of the plurality of solar cells; and
a transparent layer that faces towards front sides of the plurality of solar cells.
3 . The solar module of claim 1 , wherein the protection coating comprises a thermoset material.
4 . The solar module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of solar cells is arranged in a shingled configuration such that edge portions of adjacent solar cells overlap along a contact bond line.
5 . The solar module of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of solar cells is interconnected by way of electrically conductive adhesives.
6 . The solar module of claim 5 , wherein the protection coating has a thickness between 5-100 μm and wherein the contact bond line has a thickness greater than a thickness of the contact bond line.
7 . The solar module of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of the protection coating is a mesh pattern and the cutouts are rectangular.
8 . The solar module of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of the protection coating is a mesh pattern and the cutouts are hexagonal.
9 . The solar module of claim 1 , wherein the protection coating is disposed on a front side surface of the solar cell.
10 . The solar module of claim 1 , wherein the protection coating is disposed on a back side surface of the solar cell.
11 . A solar module comprising:
a plurality of solar cells, each solar cell of the plurality of solar cells having a plurality of protection coatings on a surface of the solar cell, the plurality of protection coatings comprising a polymer and arranged to expose the surface of the solar cell in spaces between adjacent protection coatings; and
an encapsulant that encapsulates the plurality of solar cells.
12 . The solar module of claim 11 , wherein the polymer comprises a thermoset material.
13 . A solar module comprising:
a plurality of solar cells, each solar cell of the plurality of solar cells having a protection coating on a surface of the solar cell, the protection coating comprising a polymer;
an encapsulant that encapsulates the plurality of solar cells;
a back layer disposed towards back sides of the plurality of solar cells; and
a transparent layer disposed towards front sides of the plurality of solar cells.
14 . The solar module of claim 13 , wherein the polymer comprises a thermoset material.
15 . The solar module of claim 13 , wherein the protection coating has a pattern that through which contact structures of the plurality of solar cells protrude.