Method for the integrated series connection of thick film solar cells, and use of the method in the production of a tandem solar cell

摘要

For the purpose of the series connection of a multiplicity of thick-film solar cells, the separating trenches (5) in the thick film (4) for making the conducting connection between the cells by means of the lift-off technique are produced by applying the strip pattern (3) required for the lift-off technique as a paste by the screen printing method to the substrate (1) provided with the structured main electrode (2) before the deposition of the thick film (4) over the entire surface and removing it again before depositing the top electrode layer (6). In this way, it is possible to obviate cumbersome mechanical separation methods. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, provision is made for a polycrystalline silicon film to be used as thick film (4) and for the solar cell (II) thereby produced to be combined via an optical coupler (III) with a solar cell (I) based on amorphous hydrogenised silicon (a-Si:H), the a-Si:H cell (I) being connected by means of two transparent electrodes as front cell. The method is inexpensive since it can readily be automated and makes a high throughput possible. …IMAGE…