Panasonic BP-5917C40 Technical Handbook page 4

THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS (SUNCERAM II) - CONTINUED
1.3. Construction
Since screen printing is used for the entire film-forming
process, the Sunceram II cells with a large surface area
can be made relatively easily, while any number of cells
in any required shape can be connected in series or in
parallel on the glass substrate at the same time as the
films are formed. The figures below show two typical
examples of the construction of cells connected in
series. When the cells are used in calculators and other
applications involving relatively faint currents,
connection method (a) is mainly used; when they are
used in high-brightness conditions with high currents,
method (b) is used.
1.3.1. Construction of Sunceram II cells connected
in series
(a) Connection at lower edge of each cell
Electrodes (for series connection)
Electrode (negative)
( )
Glass N-type
semiconductor
(b) Connection along entire length of cell sides
Electrode (negative)
( )
Electrodes (for series connection)
Glass N-type
semiconductor
Panasonic
Electrode
(positive)
( )
P-type Current
semiconductor collector
Electrode (positive)
( )
P-type Current
semiconductor collector
Solar Cells Handbook, Page 3
1.4 Sunceram II Features
1. High, wide-ranging spectral sensitivity
characteristics
The cells have wider spectral characteristics in various
wavelength regions than crystalline silicon and are more
sensitive over a wider wavelength region than
amorphous silicon.
Emission spectrum of light sources
100
50
0
300 500
Wavelength (nm)
Spectral sensitivity characteristics of solar cells
100
Amorphous
silicon
50
0
300 500
Wavelength (nm)
2. Excellent sunlight irradiation characteristics
Compared with amorphous silicon, Sunceram II operates
more stabile over longer periods of time when irradiated
by sunlight.
1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0 30 60
Incandescent bulb
Sunlight
AMI.5)
Cool white
fluorescent light
700 900
Crystalline
silicon
Sunceram II
700 900
(In-company comparison)
Sunceram II
Amorphous silicon
Light source: Solar simulator
100mW cm 2
90 120 150 180 210
Time (hours)
August 1998
1100
1100
240