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Assessing the Potential of Inversion Layer Solar Cells Based on Highly Charged Dielectric Nanolayers
Author(s) -
Yu Mingzhe,
Shi Yifu,
Deru Joshua,
Al-Dhahir Isabel,
McNab Shona,
Chen Daniel,
Voss Martin,
Hwu En-Te,
Ciesla Alison,
Hallam Brett,
Hamer Phillip,
Altermatt Pietro P.,
Wilshaw Peter,
Bonilla Ruy S.
Publication year - 2021
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.202100129
Subject(s) - common emitter , dielectric , materials science , optoelectronics , energy conversion efficiency , solar cell , substrate (aquarium) , open circuit voltage , voltage , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrical engineering , oceanography , engineering , chromatography , geology
The production and performance of p‐type inversion layer (IL) Si solar cells, manufactured with an ion‐injection technique that produces a highly charged dielectric nanolayer, are investigated. It is demonstrated that the field‐induced electron layer underneath the dielectric can reach a dark sheet resistance of 0.95 kΩ sq −1 on a 1 Ω cm n‐type substrate, lower than any previously reported. In addition, it is shown that the implied open‐circuit voltage of a p‐type IL cell precursor with a highly charged dielectric is equivalent to that of a cell with a phosphorous emitter. In the cell precursor, light‐beam‐induced current measurements are performed, and the uniformity and performance of the IL is demonstrated. Finally, simulations are used to explain the physical characteristics of the interface leading to extremely low sheet resistances, and to assess the efficiency potential of IL cells. IL cells are predicted to reach an efficiency of 24.5%, and 24.8% on 5/10 Ω cm substrates, by replacing the phosphorous emitter with a simpler manufacturing process. This requires a charge density of beyond 2 × 10 13 cm −2 , as is demonstrated here. Moreover, IL cells perform even better at higher charge densities and when negative charge is optimized at the rear dielectric.