Thin absorbers for defect-tolerant solar cell design

David Berney Needleman, Andre Augusto, Ana Peral, Stuart Bowden, Carlos Del Canizo, Tonio Buonassisi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thin silicon wafers provide a pathway to lower cost and lower capital intensity PV module manufacturing. They can also produce higher-efficiency devices with less expensive feedstock and crystallization processes because they require shorter diffusion lengths and operate at higher carrier injection. Through simulation, we show that thin Si wafers can be incorporated into high-efficiency cells with greater defect tolerance than thick wafers. Experimentally, we demonstrate the importance of excellent surface passivation to realizing the efficiency potential of thin silicon solar cells and show that such passivation can be achieved in silicon/amorphous silicon heterojunction devices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2016 IEEE 43rd Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2016
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages606-610
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781509027248
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 18 2016
Event43rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2016 - Portland, United States
Duration: Jun 5 2016Jun 10 2016

Publication series

NameConference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
Volume2016-November
ISSN (Print)0160-8371

Other

Other43rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPortland
Period6/5/166/10/16

Keywords

  • heterojunction
  • photovoltaic cells
  • silicon

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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