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SHORT COMMUNICATION: ACCELERATED PUBLICATION: Multicrystalline silicon solar cells exceeding 20% efficiency
Author(s) -
Schultz O.,
Glunz S. W.,
Willeke G. P.
Publication year - 2004
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.583
Subject(s) - monocrystalline silicon , passivation , materials science , silicon , optoelectronics , carrier lifetime , laser , solar cell , energy conversion efficiency , plasma , degradation (telecommunications) , engineering physics , optics , composite material , electronic engineering , layer (electronics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
This paper presents the first conversion efficiency above 20% for a multicrystalline silicon solar cell. The application of wet oxidation for rear surface passivation significantly reduces the process temperature and therefore prevents the degradation of minority‐carrier lifetime. The excellent optical properties of the dielectrically passivated rear surface in combination with a plasma textured front surface result in a superior light trapping and allow the use of substrates below 100 μm thickness. A simplified process scheme with laser‐fired rear contacts leads to conversion efficiencies of 20·3% for multicrystalline and 21·2% for monocrystalline silicon solar cells on small device areas (1 cm 2 ). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.