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Solar Thin Film Photovoltaics
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Patent US10158033
Issued 2018-12-18
Connection Of Photoactive Regions In An Optoelectronic Device
An optoelectronic device has a layered construction, comprising a base layer, a first conductive layer, a photoactive layer and a second conductive layer. Plural separation channels extending through the photoactive layer and the first conductive layer separate the photoactive layer into photoactive regions, and insulator material extends through the respective separation channels to the base layer. Between adjacent photoactive regions, electrical connectors extend inside the lateral extent of the insulator material between a surface of a second electrode that is in electrical contact with one photoactive region to an opposing surface of a first electrode that is in electrical contact with the other photoactive region. By forming the electrical connectors extend inside the lateral extent of the insulator material, the overall size of the connection is minimized.
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- 1. An optoelectronic device having a layered construction, comprising:
a base layer; a first conductive layer on the base layer; a photoactive layer on the first conductive layer and in electrical contact therewith; plural separation channels extending through the photoactive layer and the first conductive layer, wherein, on opposite sides of the separation channels, the photoactive layer is separated into photoactive regions and the first conductive layer is separated into first electrodes in electrical contact with respective photoactive regions, wherein the first electrodes have first surfaces that are in physical contact with respective photoactive regions; between adjacent photoactive regions, insulator material extending at least through the respective separation channels to the base layer, wherein the insulator material has a lateral extent in a direction across the optoelectronic device; a second conductive layer on the photoactive layer and in electrical contact therewith separated into second electrodes in electrical contact with respective photoactive regions by gaps extending through the second conductive layer, wherein the second electrodes have second surfaces that are in physical contact with respective photoactive regions and oppose the first surfaces of the first electrodes; and between adjacent photoactive regions, respective electrical connectors extending between the second surface of the second electrode that is in physical contact with one of the adjacent photoactive regions and the first surface of the first electrode that is in physical contact with the other of the adjacent photoactive regions, inside the lateral extent of the insulator material, wherein the respective electrical connectors are in direct contact with the second surface of the second electrode and the first surface of the first electrode.
- 14. A method of manufacturing an optoelectronic device, comprising:
providing a base layer; depositing a first conductive layer on the base layer; forming a photoactive layer on the first conductive layer and in electrical contact therewith; forming plural separation channels extending through the photoactive layer and the first conductive layer that separate the photoactive layer into photoactive regions and that separate the first conductive layer into first electrodes in electrical contact with respective photoactive regions, wherein the first electrodes have first surfaces that are in physical contact with respective photoactive regions; depositing, between adjacent photoactive regions, insulator material extending at least through the respective separation channels to the base layer, wherein the insulator material has a lateral extent in a direction across the optoelectronic device; and forming a second conductive layer on the photoactive layer and in electrical contact therewith separated into second electrodes in electrical contact with respective photoactive regions by gaps extending through the second conductive layer, wherein the second electrodes have second surfaces that are in physical contact with respective photoactive regions and oppose the first surfaces of the first electrodes, and between adjacent photoactive regions, respective electrical connectors extending between the second surface of the second electrode that is in physical contact with one of the adjacent photoactive regions and the first surface of the first electrode that is in physical contact with the other of the adjacent photoactive regions, inside the lateral extent of the insulator material, wherein the respective electrical connectors are in direct contact with the second surface of the second electrode and the first surface of the first electrode.
