16. 7% efficient, laser textured, buried contact polycrystalline silicon solar cell

Journal Article · Sun Nov 26 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Applied Physics Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.102019· OSTI ID:5206522

Zolper, J C; Narayanan, S; Wenham, S R; Green, M A ^[1]

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1. Solar Photovoltaic Laboratory, Joint Microelectronics Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2033, Australia (AU)

In the evolution of single-crystal silicon solar cells, crystallographic texturing of the cell surface using anisotropic etches was an important step in improving cell performance. Unfortunately, this technique is ineffective for polycrystalline silicon solar cells due to generally unfavorable grain orientation. This limitation has been overcome by employing a new laser texturing technique on the top surface of a laser grooved, buried top contact polycrystalline silicon solar cell. This approach has demonstrated an independently confirmed 16.7% (air mass 1.5, 25 {degree}C) efficiency for a 10.5 cm{sup 2} polycrystalline silicon solar cell, the highest efficiency ever reported for a polycrystalline cell of this size.

• OSTI ID: 5206522
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters; (USA) Vol. 55:22; ISSN APPLA; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DATA
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRAIN ORIENTATION
INFORMATION
MICROSTRUCTURE
NUMERICAL DATA
ORIENTATION
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POLYCRYSTALS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TEXTURE