Segmented thin film solar cells

Abstract

Use of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) and/or pure mechanical polishing to separate sub-cells in a thin film solar cell. In one embodiment the CMP is only used to separate the active, thin film layer into sub-cells, with scribing still being used to achieve sub-cell separation in conductive layers above and below the active, thin film layer. Also, the active layer may be placed over a series of protrusions so that the CMP removes the active layer that is over the protrusion, while leaving intact the flat, planar portions of the active layer. In this way, the removed active layer, from over the protrusions then becomes the division between sub-cells in the active layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An electromagnetic radiation cell comprising:
 a lower conductive layer;   a substrate; and   an active layer;   wherein:   the substrate includes an upper surface having a set of protrusions including at least one protrusion with each protrusion including two upstanding lateral surfaces; and   the lower conductive layer is located between the substrate and the active layer so that: (i) the lower conductive layer extends over the upstanding surfaces of the protrusions, and (ii) the active layer is segmented into a plurality of mutually isolated sub-cells by the lower conductive layer and the upstanding portions of the protrusions underlying the lower conductive layer.   
     
     
         15 . The cell of  claim 14  wherein the active layer is photovoltaic. 
     
     
         16 . The cell of  claim 14  further comprising:
 an upper conductive layer located on top of at least a substantial portion of the active layer. 
 
     
     
         17 . the cell of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the lower conductive layer is divided into sub-cells corresponding to the sub-cells of the active layer; and   the upper conductive layer is divided into sub-cells corresponding to the sub-cells of the active layer.