High current, thin silicon-on-ceramic solar cell

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/16.792012· OSTI ID:20006094

Ford, D H; Rand, J A; Delledonne, E J; Ingram, A E; Bisaillon, J C; Feyock, B W; Mauk, M G; Hall, R B; Barnett, A M

Thinfilm polycrystalline silicon solar cells offer the potential to achieve 19% efficient photovoltaic power conversion. Well-designed, 20--100 micron thick, thin-film silicon solar cells can achieve high efficiency by employing light trapping and back surface passivation. Low cost is achieved by minimizing the amount of feedstock silicon required per watt of power output. Electrically insulating supporting substrates enable monolithic, series-connected submodules. A solar cell device comprised of a 20 micron thick layer of silicon grown on an insulating ceramic substrate, designed to effect light-trapping and back surface passivation, has resulted in an independently verified short circuit current of 25.8 mA/cm{sup 2}. Analysis of the spectral response of the solar cell indicates the presence of both light-trapping and back surface passivation with an effective diffusion length in excess of twice the device thickness.

• Research Organization: AstroPower, Inc., Newark, DE (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy
• OSTI ID: 20006094
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 46; ISSN 0018-9383; ISSN IETDAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CERAMICS
PERFORMANCE
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SUBSTRATES
THIN FILMS