skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Characterization of deliberately nickel-doped silicon wafers and solar cells. JPL Publication 79-116

Abstract

Microstructural and electrical evaluation tests were performed on nickel-doped p-type silicon wafers before and after solar cell fabrication. The concentration levels of nickel in silicon were 5 x 10/sup 14/, 4 x 10/sup 15/, and 8 x 10/sup 15/ atoms/cm/sup 3/. It was found that nickel precipitated out during the growth process in all three ingots. Clumps of precipitates, some of which exhibited star shape, were present at different depths. If the clumps are distributed at depths approx. 20 ..mu..m apart and if they are larger than 10 ..mu..m in diameter, degradation occurs in solar cell electrical properties and cell conversion efficiency. The larger the size of the precipitate clump, the greater the degradation in solar cell efficiency. A large grain boundary around the cell effective area acted as a gettering center for the precipitates and impurities and caused improvement in solar cell efficiency. Details of the evaluation test results are given.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5817752
Report Number(s):
DOE/JPL/1012-34
DOE Contract Number:
EX-76-A-29-1012
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; SILICON; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; MICROSTRUCTURE; SILICON SOLAR CELLS; IMPURITIES; EFFICIENCY; EVALUATION; GRAIN BOUNDARIES; NICKEL ADDITIONS; OPTICAL MICROSCOPY; P-TYPE CONDUCTORS; PERFORMANCE; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ALLOYS; CRYSTAL STRUCTURE; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ELEMENTS; MICROSCOPY; NICKEL ALLOYS; PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; SEMIMETALS; SOLAR CELLS; 140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion; 360603 - Materials- Properties

Citation Formats

Salama, A.M. Characterization of deliberately nickel-doped silicon wafers and solar cells. JPL Publication 79-116. United States: N. p., 1979. Web. doi:10.2172/5817752.
Copy to clipboard
Salama, A.M. Characterization of deliberately nickel-doped silicon wafers and solar cells. JPL Publication 79-116. United States. doi:10.2172/5817752.
Copy to clipboard
Salama, A.M. Thu . "Characterization of deliberately nickel-doped silicon wafers and solar cells. JPL Publication 79-116". United States. doi:10.2172/5817752. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5817752.
Copy to clipboard
@article{osti_5817752,
title = {Characterization of deliberately nickel-doped silicon wafers and solar cells. JPL Publication 79-116},
author = {Salama, A.M.},
abstractNote = {Microstructural and electrical evaluation tests were performed on nickel-doped p-type silicon wafers before and after solar cell fabrication. The concentration levels of nickel in silicon were 5 x 10/sup 14/, 4 x 10/sup 15/, and 8 x 10/sup 15/ atoms/cm/sup 3/. It was found that nickel precipitated out during the growth process in all three ingots. Clumps of precipitates, some of which exhibited star shape, were present at different depths. If the clumps are distributed at depths approx. 20 ..mu..m apart and if they are larger than 10 ..mu..m in diameter, degradation occurs in solar cell electrical properties and cell conversion efficiency. The larger the size of the precipitate clump, the greater the degradation in solar cell efficiency. A large grain boundary around the cell effective area acted as a gettering center for the precipitates and impurities and caused improvement in solar cell efficiency. Details of the evaluation test results are given.},
doi = {10.2172/5817752},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1979},
month = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1979}
}
Copy to clipboard
Technical Report:
View Technical Report (4.96 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/5817752
Save / Share:
Export Metadata
Save to My Library
You must Sign In or Create an Account in order to save documents to your library.

  • In an effort to improve the reliability and lower the cost of solar cells, a test program has been developed to determine the nature and source of the flaw controlling the fracture of silicon solar cells and to provide information regarding the mechanical strength of cells. Results obtained in the first phase of a test program to develop improved methods for testing the mechanical strength of cells and to evaluate the fracture strength of typical Czochralski silicon solar cells 76 mm (3 in.) in diameter are presented. Significant changes in fracture strengths were found in seven selected in-process wafer-to-cell productsmore » from a manufacturer's production line. The fracture stength data were described by Weibull statistical analysis and can be interpreted in light of the exterior flaw distribution of the samples.« less

  • This is a summary of the Point-Focusing Thermal and Electric Applications PFTEA Project's Annual Technical Report for FY 1979. More detailed compilation of results for this year may be found in Volume II. Major activities in FY 1979 centered around the definition and implementation of the engineering experiments that form the main thrust of the PFTEA Project. Phase I of the first experiment, the Small Community Solar Thermal Power Experiment, was completed. As a result of the Phase I concept definition studies that included a small central receiver approach, a point-focusing distributed receiver system with central power generation and amore » point-focusing distributed receiver concept with distributed power generation, Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation was selected to pursue the last approach in Phase II. The first experiment in the Isolated Application Series was initiated as a result of procurement activities that culminated with the release of an RFP for the Military Module Power Experiment. A 100 kWe power plant based on Hybrid Brayton technology is being developed in conjunction with the US Navy. Planning for the third engineering experiment series, which addresses the industrial market sector, was initiated in FY 1979. In addition to the experiment-related activities, several contracts to industry were let and studies at JPL were conducted to explore the market potential for Point-Focusing Distributed Receiver (PFDR) Systems. System analysis studies were completed that looked at PFDR technology relative to other small power system technology candidates for the utility market sector.« less

  • Reported are the development and demonstration of a 17% efficient 25mm x 25mm crystalline Silicon solar cell and a 16% efficient 125mm x 125mm crystalline Silicon solar cell, both produced by Ink-jet printing Silicon Ink on a thin crystalline Silicon wafer. To achieve these objectives, processing approaches were developed to print the Silicon Ink in a predetermined pattern to form a high efficiency selective emitter, remove the solvents in the Silicon Ink and fuse the deposited particle Silicon films. Additionally, standard solar cell manufacturing equipment with slightly modified processes were used to complete the fabrication of the Silicon Ink highmore » efficiency solar cells. Also reported are the development and demonstration of a 18.5% efficient 125mm x 125mm monocrystalline Silicon cell, and a 17% efficient 125mm x 125mm multicrystalline Silicon cell, by utilizing high throughput Ink-jet and screen printing technologies. To achieve these objectives, Innovalight developed new high throughput processing tools to print and fuse both p and n type particle Silicon Inks in a predetermined pat-tern applied either on the front or the back of the cell. Additionally, a customized Ink-jet and screen printing systems, coupled with customized substrate handling solution, customized printing algorithms, and a customized ink drying process, in combination with a purchased turn-key line, were used to complete the high efficiency solar cells. This development work delivered a process capable of high volume producing 18.5% efficient crystalline Silicon solar cells and enabled the Innovalight to commercialize its technology by the summer of 2010.« less

  • The objective of the Vee-Trough/Vacuum Tube Collector (VTVTC) Project was to prove the usefulness of vee-trough concentrators in improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of collectors assembled from evacuated tube receivers. The VTVTC was analyzed rigorously and various mathematical models were developed to calculate the optical performance of the vee-trough concentrator and the thermal performance of the evacuated tube receiver. A test bed was constructed to verify the mathematical analyses and compare reflectors made out of glass, Alzak and aluminized FEP Teflon. Tests were run at temperatures ranging from 95 to 180/sup 0/C during the months of April, May,more » June, July and August 1977. Vee-trough collector efficiencies of 35 to 40% were observed at an operating temperature of about 175/sup 0/C. Test results compared well with the calculated values. Test data covering a complete day are presented for selected dates throughout the test season. Predicted daily useful heat collection and efficiency values are presented for a year's duration at operation temperatures ranging from 65 to 230/sup 0/C. Estimated collector costs and resulting thermal energy costs are presented. Analytical and experimental results are discussed along with a complete economic evaulation. Recommendations for the continuation of the project are presented.« less

  • The Solar Array Manufacturing Industry Costing Standards (SAMICS) provide standard formats, data, assumptions, and procedures for determining the price a hypothetical solar array manufacturer would have to be able to obtain in the market to realize a specified after-tax rate of return on equity for a specified level of production. This document presents the methodology and its theoretical background. It is contended that the model is sufficiently general to be used in any production-line manufacturing environment. Implementation of this methodology by the Solar Array Manufacturing Industry Simulation computer program (SAMIS III, Release 1) is discussed.