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It is currently possible to fabricate crystalline silicon solar cells withthe absorber thickness ranging from a few hundreds of micrometers (conventionalwafer-based cells) to devices as thin as $1\,\mu\mathrm{m}$. In this work, weuse a model single-junction solar cell to calculate the limits of energyconversion efficiency and estimate the optimal absorber thickness. The limitingefficiency for cells in the thickness range between 40 and $500\,\mu\mathrm{m}$is very similar and close to 29%. In this regard, we argue that decreasing thethickness below around $40\,\mu\mathrm{m}$ is counter-productive, as itsignificantly reduces the maximum achievable efficiency, even when optimallight trapping is implemented. We analyse the roles of incomplete lighttrapping and extrinsic (bulk and surface) recombination mechanisms. For areasonably high material quality, consistent with present-day fabricationtechniques, the optimal thickness is always higher than a few tens ofmicrometers. We identify incomplete light trapping and parasitic losses as amajor roadblock in improving the efficiency upon the current record of 25.6%for silicon solar cells. Finally, considering the main parameters that impactsolar cell performance, we quantify the constraints and requirements forachieving a specified energy conversion efficiency, which is important for aproper design strategy of high efficiency silicon solar cells.

Towards the efficiency limits of silicon solar cells: how thin is too thin?