MONOLITHIC INTEGRATION OF NONPLANAR SOLAR CELLS

摘要

A solar cell unit comprising a substrate having a first end and a second end, where at least a portion of the substrate is rigid, and where the substrate has at least one non-planar surface is provided. The solar cell unit further comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells linearly disposed on the at least one non-planar surface. The plurality of photovoltaic cells include a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, where the first photovoltaic cell is coupled electrically in series to the second photovoltaic cell. A filler material encases the plurality of photovoltaic cells and a transparent nonplanar casing encases the filler material. The ends of the transparent nonplanar casing are capped by hermetic seals.