Patent ID: 7919337
Filing Date: 2011-04-05
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating a solar cell, comprising the steps of: fabricating the solar cell in at least two initially separate elements comprising: forming a first element comprised of a bottom electrode, a transparent conducting layer, and an active layer between the bottom electrode and the transparent conducting layer, wherein the bottom electrode comprises of a flexible electrically conductive substrate; forming a second element comprised of an electrically conductive back plane; forming vias through the first element; electrically insulating side walls of the vias with an electrically insulating material; laminating the second element to an underside of the first element, wherein an insulating layer is between the first element and the second element and wherein at least a portion of the second element extends beyond the perimeter of the first element; filling the vias with an electrically conductive material into the vias wherein an electrically insulating material insulates side walls of the conductive material in the vias from side walls of the active layer; and forming an electrical connection between said portion of the electrically conductive back plane of the second element that extends beyond the perimeter of the first element and an adjacent solar cell.