Sharp Corp., a leading Japanese electronics manufacturer, has successfully developed mass-production technology for triple-junction thin-film solar cells. By shifting from a conventional two-layer structure to a three-layer structure, cell conversion efficiency improves from 11 percent to 13 percent, and module conversion efficiency improves from 8.6 percent to 10 percent.

A conventional two-layer structure consists of amorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon, while the newly developed triple-junction thin-film solar cell has a three-layer structure comprising a double layer of amorphous silicon and a single layer of microcrystalline silicon. Creating two active amorphous silicon layers significantly increases voltage levels, while combining these layers with a layer of microcrystalline silicon decreases light-induced degradation (drop in conversion efficiency). This leads to higher conversion efficiencies.

The triple-junction thin-film solar cell is expected to expand the range of applications for transparent thin-film solar modules designed as architectural elements or as combination solar modules and LEDs. The company plans to start mass production in May 2007 at their Katsuragi Plant in Nara Prefecture.



Posted: 2007/05/07 12:28:58 PM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Manufacturing industry