Patent ID: 8114702
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a monolithic thin-film photovoltaic device with enhanced output voltage comprising: providing a common transparent substrate having a longitudinal direction and a light-receiving surface, forming on said common transparent substrate a plurality of adjacent individual TSCs, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the common transparent substrate, each individual TSC of said plurality comprising a first PV cell and a second PV cell, said first PV cell comprising a P-doped layer, an I-layer, and an N-doped layer, said second PV cell comprising a P-doped layer, an I-layer, and an N-doped layer; said first PV cells and second PV cells each having a thickness and a lateral dimension; arranging the P-doped layer of the first PV cell substantially coplanar with the N-doped layer of the second PV-cell; arranging the I-layer of the first PV cell substantially coplanar with the I-layer of the second PV-cell; and arranging the N-doped layer of the first PV cell substantially coplanar with the P-doped layer of the second PV-cell; forming a tunnel junction between the N-doped layer of one PV cell of an individual TSC and the P-doped layer of another PV cell of the same TSC by providing an overlapped portion between said N-doped layer of said one PV cell and said P-doped layer of said another PV cell, thus electrically connecting said one PV cell with said another PV cell; providing electrical connection between the second PV-cell of each individual TSC of said plurality with the first PV cell of the adjacent individual TSC, thus electrically connecting in series all individual TSCs of said plurality and enhancing output voltage of the monolithic thin-film photovoltaic device.