Thin Film Type Solar Cell and Method for Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

A thin film type solar cell and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed, which is capable of providing a wide light-transmission area without lowering cell efficiency and increasing processing time, so that the solar cell can be used as a substitute for a glass window in a building. The thin film type solar cell generally comprises a substrate; a plurality of front electrodes at fixed intervals on the substrate; a plurality of semiconductor layers at fixed intervals with a contact portion or separating channel interposed in-between, the plurality of semiconductor layers on the plurality of front electrodes; and a plurality of rear electrodes at fixed intervals by the each separating channel interposed in-between, the each rear electrode being electrically connected with the each front electrode; wherein the each rear electrode is patterned in such a way that a light-transmitting portion is included in a predetermined portion of the rear electrode.

1 . A thin film type solar cell comprising:
 a substrate;   a plurality of front electrodes at fixed intervals on the substrate;   a semiconductor layer having a plurality of contact portions and separating channels interposed therein on the front electrodes;   a transparent conductive layer on the semiconductor, wherein the transparent conductive layer has a same pattern as the semiconductor layer; and   a plurality of rear electrodes separated at fixed intervals by a corresponding separating channel, wherein each rear electrode is electrically connected with one of the front electrodes through one of the contact portions, and each rear electrode includes a light-transmitting portion therein so as to enhance a light-transmission area.   
     
     
         2 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 1 , wherein the light-transmitting portion has a straight-line pattern, a curved-line pattern, a letter-shaped pattern, or a symbol-shaped pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 1 , wherein the front electrode is exposed through the light-transmitting portion. 
     
     
         4 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 1 , wherein the front electrode has an uneven structure. 
     
     
         5 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer has a PIN structure. 
     
     
         6 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer includes a first semiconductor layer, a buffer layer, and a second semiconductor layer in sequence. 
     
     
         7 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer has a PIN structure. 
     
     
         8 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 6 , wherein the first semiconductor layer comprises amorphous semiconductor material, and the second semiconductor layer comprises microcrystalline semiconductor material. 
     
     
         9 . The thin film type solar cell of  claim 6 , wherein the first semiconductor layer consists essentially of amorphous semiconductor material, and the second semiconductor layer consists essentially of microcrystalline semiconductor material.