Monolithic integration of nonplanar solar cells

摘要

A solar cell unit (27) is provided that has a electrically insulating substrate (102) having a first end and a second end, where at least a portion of the substrate is rigid and nonplanar. The solar cell unit has a plurality of photovoltaic cells (700) linearly arranged on the substrate, including a first and second photovoltaic cell. Each photovoltaic cell in the plurality of photovoltaic cells comprises a back-electrode (104) circumferentially disposed on the substrate, a semiconductor junction layer (46) circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode, and a transparent conductive layer (110) circumferentially disposed on the semiconductor junction. The transparent conductive layer of the first photovoltaic cell in the plurality of photovoltaic cells is in serial electrical communication with the back-electrode of the second photovoltaic cell in the plurality of photovoltaic cells.