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Toward Efficient Radial Junction Silicon Nanowire‐Based Solar Mini‐Modules
Author(s) -
AlGhzaiwat Mutaz,
Foti Antonino,
Nuesslein André,
Halagacka Lukas,
Meot Jacques,
Labouret Anne,
Ossikovski Razvigor,
Roca i Cabarrocas Pere,
Foldyna Martin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
physica status solidi (rrl) – rapid research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.786
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1862-6270
pISSN - 1862-6254
DOI - 10.1002/pssr.201800402
Subject(s) - materials science , silicon , scanning electron microscope , nanowire , optoelectronics , raman spectroscopy , plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition , energy conversion efficiency , nanotechnology , substrate (aquarium) , laser , solar cell , chemical vapor deposition , fabrication , optics , composite material , medicine , oceanography , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , geology
In this work, laser scribing is used to obtain a monolithic series connection between adjacent silicon nanowire radial junction (SiNW RJ) solar cells on the same glass substrate. The SiNW RJ solar cells have been deposited in a low‐temperature plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reactor in a single pump‐down process. The crystalline SiNWs have been grown by plasma‐assisted vapor‐liquid‐solid method using tin (Sn) metal drops as a growth catalyst. A detailed study of the laser scribing step P2 is performed for better selective removal of the SiNW RJs. The laser scribed spots are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy mapping. In addition, a silver grid is optimized and inkjet printed on top of the mini‐modules for better device performance. Based on that, a very good performance of the SiNW RJ mini‐modules is achieved with an energy conversion efficiency over 4% and power generation in the active area of 10 cm 2 . This work presents a break‐through in the modularization of the SiNW RJ solar cells and demonstrates the potential of the silicon nanowire devices for industrial applications as well as their compatibility with industrial fabrication processes.