Electrical isolation of component cells in monolithically interconnected modules

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873764

Wanlass, Mark W ^[1]

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1. Golden, CO

A monolithically interconnected photovoltaic module having cells which are electrically connected which comprises a substrate, a plurality of cells formed over the substrate, each cell including a primary absorber layer having a light receiving surface and a p-region, formed with a p-type dopant, and an n-region formed with an n-type dopant adjacent the p-region to form a single pn-junction, and a cell isolation diode layer having a p-region, formed with a p-type dopant, and an n-region formed with an n-type dopant adjacent the p-region to form a single pn-junction, the diode layer intervening the substrate and the absorber layer wherein the absorber and diode interfacial regions of a same conductivity type orientation, the diode layer having a reverse-breakdown voltage sufficient to prevent inter-cell shunting, and each cell electrically isolated from adjacent cells with a vertical trench trough the pn-junction of the diode layer, interconnects disposed in the trenches contacting the absorber regions of adjacent cells which are doped an opposite conductivity type, and electrical contacts.

• Research Organization: Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• Assignee: Midwest Research Institute (Kansas City, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 6239354
• OSTI ID: 873764
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

electrical
isolation
component
cells
monolithically
interconnected
modules
photovoltaic
module
electrically
connected
comprises
substrate
plurality
formed
cell
including
primary
absorber
layer
light
receiving
surface
p-region
p-type
dopant
n-region
n-type
adjacent
form
single
pn-junction
diode
intervening
interfacial
regions
conductivity
type
orientation
reverse-breakdown
voltage
sufficient
prevent
inter-cell
shunting
isolated
vertical
trench
trough
interconnects
disposed
trenches
contacting
doped
opposite
contacts
receiving surface
n-type dopant
adjacent cells
electrically isolated
electrical contacts
cell including
photovoltaic module
breakdown voltage
electrical contact
electrically connected
p-type dopant
adjacent cell
conductivity type
electrical isolation
absorber layer
region formed
type dopant
interconnected photovoltaic
electrically isolate
monolithically interconnected
cell electric
interconnected modules
/136/257/438/