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Polycrystalline Silicon‐Film™ Thin‐film Solar Cells: Advanced Products
Author(s) -
Cotter J. E.,
Barnett A. M.,
Ford D. H.,
Hall R. B.,
Ingram A. E.,
Rand J. A.,
Ruffins T. R.,
Shreve K. P.,
Thomas C. J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.4670030508
Subject(s) - polycrystalline silicon , materials science , thin film , passivation , solar cell , silicon , plasmonic solar cell , monocrystalline silicon , optoelectronics , engineering physics , nanotechnology , engineering , layer (electronics) , thin film transistor
Thin‐film polycrystalline silicon has the potential to achieve the cost reduction and performance improvement necessary for large‐scale electricity markets. Reduced cost is achieved by capitalizing on the benefits of thin films grown on low‐cost, large‐area substrates. Improved efficiency is realized, in spite of reduced material quality, by incorporating enhanced optical absorption and back‐surface passivation. The cornerstone of AstroPower's thin‐film solar cell technology is the Silicon‐Film™ process: a method for the manufacture of solar cell‐quality, polycrystalline films of silicon on a variety of low‐cost, supporting substrates. Three thin‐film solar cell designs, based on this technology, are currently under development. This paper presents the key design features of these three products and briefly reviews the current status of the development of the key technologies that comprise the advanced thin‐film solar cell products.