Methods and structures for improving the structural integrity of solar cells

摘要

A method for manufacturing solar cells is disclosed. The method includes forming an insulating material in a printable suspension along the at least one side edge of a solar cell, the insulating material in a printable suspension further adapted to form a protective film which reduces cracking near at least one side edge of the solar cell and improve structural integrity against mechanical stress. The protective film has an elastic modulus of at least 3 GPa, an elongation break point of at least 13 percent and a glass transition temperature of at least 250 degrees Celsius which provides additional structural support along the side edges, increasing the overall structural integrity, providing electrical insulation along the edges and improve the flexure strength of the solar cell.

主权项

1. A method for manufacturing a solar cell, the solar cell having a front side which faces the sun during normal operation, a back side opposite the front side, and four side edges, the method comprising:
forming first and second doped regions on the back side of the solar cell; before forming metal contact fingers that are electrically coupled to the first and second doped regions, forming a first insulating material in a printable suspension at least on one side edge of the solar cell, wherein the first insulating material forms a continuous first protective film with an elastic modulus of at least 3 GPa and the first protective film envelops a portion of the front side, the at least one side edge, and a portion of the back side of the solar cell comprising the first and second doped regions; forming a first plurality of interdigitated metal contact fingers electrically coupled to the first doped region; and forming a second plurality of interdigitated metal contact fingers electrically coupled to the second doped region.