Patent ID: 7772486
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic device comprising: a single-crystalline silicon substrate; a non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer, which is formed on an upper surface of said single-crystalline silicon substrate; a transparent conductive film which is formed on an upper surface of said non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer; and a collector which is formed on an upper surface of said transparent conductive film, wherein said transparent conductive film is formed so as to expose the periphery of the upper surface of said non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer on the side of said collector, the periphery including an edge of the photovoltaic device, said collector is formed so as to be in contact with the exposed upper surface of said non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer on the side of said collector, said collector includes first electrode portions for collecting currents and a second electrode portion for aggregating said currents collected by said first electrode portions, formed so as to connect with said first electrode portions, said second electrode portion is formed so as to extend in a prescribed direction in plane view and a part of said second electrode portion in the vicinity of its end in the longitudinal direction thereof extending in said prescribed direction is in direct contact with both an upper surface of said non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer and a surface of a side edge of the transparent conductive film, and the remaining part of said second electrode portion is in contact with the upper surface of said transparent conductive film.