Corrugation enabled ultraflexible monocrystalline silicon solar cells with interdigitated back contacts

In this work, ultraflexible monocrystalline silicon solar cells are developed using a corrugation technique. The corrugation method consists of producing alternating trenches following different patterns. By applying this technique on large scale solar cells with rear contacts technology, ultraflexibility is enabled with unimportant deterioration in the electrical behavior. The different patterns allow for different characteristics of the solar cell with regard to flexing capability output power and weight. Finally, cycling tests confirm the mechanical robustness of the encapsulated flexible solar cells using a transparent and ecofriendly polymer.