Patent ID: 6140570
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A photovoltaic element comprising a back reflecting layer, a transparent and electrically conductive layer, a semiconductor layer comprising a non-single crystalline silicon semiconductor material containing hydrogen atoms and having at least a semiconductor junction, and an upper transparent electrode layer comprising a metal oxide material stacked in this order on a substrate, and a collecting electrode provided on said upper transparent electrode layer, wherein said transparent and electrically conductive layer comprises a zinc oxide material and has a light incident side surface region with a cross section having a plurality of arcs arranged while being contacted with each other, said arcs having a radius of curvature in the range of 300 .ANG. to 6 .mu.m and an angle of elevation from the center of the curvature in the range of 30 to 155.degree., said cross section comprising said plurality of arcs at a proportion of 80% or more versus the entire region of the cross section.