IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,121,916
Granted Patent B2
US 10,121,916 · App. 15/025,491 · Granted Nov 6, 2018

Solar cell

Inventor: Myung Seok Shim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
H01L31/022441H01L31/02366H01L31/022425H01L31/03923H01L31/046H01L31/0749Y02E10/541
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,121,916
App. No.
15/025,491
Granted
Nov 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell according to an embodiment comprises: a support substrate; a rear electrode layer formed on the support substrate; a first through groove formed on the rear electrode layer; an optical absorption layer formed on the rear electrode layer; and a front electrode layer formed on the optical absorption layer, wherein the average surface roughness (Ra 1 ) of the support substrate, which is exposed by the first through groove, is in a range of 28 nm to 100 nm.

Claims (33)

1. A solar cell comprising:

a support substrate;

a rear electrode layer disposed directly on the support substrate;

a first through groove on the rear electrode layer;

an optical absorption layer on the rear electrode layer; and

a front electrode layer on the optical absorption layer,

wherein a surface of the support substrate is exposed by the first through groove and has an average surface roughness (Ra 1 ) in a range of 28 nm to 100 nm,

wherein a top surface of the rear electrode layer and a lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer each has a same average surface roughness (Ra 2 ) in a range of 28 nm to 100 nm, the lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer is exposed by the first through groove; and

wherein the surface of the support substrate exposed by the first through groove, the top surface of the rear electrode layer, and the lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer exposed by the first through groove each includes a concavo-convex pattern having a same shape, and

wherein the average surface roughness (Ra 1 ) of the surface of the support substrate exposed by the first through groove is greater than the average surface roughness (Ra 2 ) of the top surface of the rear electrode layer and the lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer exposed by the first through groove.

2. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the average surface roughness (Ra 1 ) of the surface of the support substrate exposed by the first through groove is greater than the average surface roughness (Ra 2 ) of the top surface of the rear electrode layer and the lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer exposed by the first through groove, by 1 nm to 10 nm.

3. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the support substrate, the top surface of the rear electrode layer, or the lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer exposed by the first through groove is provided in at least one of a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, and a circular shape.

4. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the surface of the support substrate exposed by the first through groove, the top surface of the rear electrode layer, and the lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer exposed by the first through groove contains sulfur (S) or fluorine (F).

5. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the rear electrode layer is divided into a plurality of rear electrodes by the first through groove.

6. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the optical absorption layer fills space of the first through groove.

7. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the rear electrode layer includes molybdenum.

8. A solar cell comprising:

a support substrate;

a rear electrode layer disposed directly on the support substrate;

a first through groove on the rear electrode layer;

an optical absorption layer on the rear electrode layer; and

a front electrode layer on the optical absorption layer,

wherein the rear electrode layer comprises:

a first contact surface being where a top surface of the rear electrode layer makes contact with the optical absorption layer; and

a second contact surface being where a lateral side surface of the rear electrode layer exposed by the first through groove makes contact with the optical absorption layer;

wherein the support substrate comprises a third contact surface being where a top surface of the support substrate exposed by the first through groove makes contact with the optical absorption layer;

wherein the first contact surface, the second contact surface, and the third contact surface each include a concavo-convex pattern having a same shape,

wherein an average surface roughness of the first contact surface, an average surface roughness of the second contact surface, and an average surface roughness of the third contact surface are each in a range of 28 nm to 100 nm, and

wherein the average surface roughness of the third contact surface is greater than the average surface roughness of the first contact surface and the average surface roughness of the second contact surface.

9. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the first contact surface, the second contact surface, and the third contact surface are each provided in at least one of a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, and a circular shape.

10. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the average surface roughness of the third contact surface is greater than the average surface roughness of the first contact surface and the average surface roughness of the second contact surface by 1 nm to 10 nm.

11. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the first contact surface, the second contact surface, and the third contact surface contain sulfur (S) or fluorine (F).

12. The solar cell of claim 8 , wherein the rear electrode layer is divided into a plurality of rear electrodes by the first through groove.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2016
From: SHIM, MYUNG SEOK
To: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 038331/0827 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2013-0115666 · Sep 27, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160240704A1 · Aug 18, 2016