26-percent efficient point-junction concentrator solar cells with a front metal grid

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · IEEE Electron Device Letters (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/55.46913· OSTI ID:6680674

Cuevas, A; Sinton, R A; Midkiff, N E; Swanson, R M ^[1]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (USA). Dept. of Electrical Engineering

This paper reports on silicon concentrator cells with point diffusions and metal contacts on both the front and back sides. The design minimizes reflection losses by forming an inverted pyramid topography on the front surface and by shaping the metal grid lines in the form of a triangular ridge. A short-circuit current density of 39.6 mA/cm{sup 2} has been achieved even though the front grid covers 16 percent of the cell's active area of 1.56 cm{sup 2}. This, together with an open-circuit voltage of 700 mV, has led to an efficiency of 22 percent at one sun, AM1.5 global spectrum. Under direct-spectrum, 8.8-W/cm{sup 2}, concentrated light, the efficiency is 26 percent. This is the highest ever reported for a silicon cell having a front metal grid.

• OSTI ID: 6680674
• Journal Information: IEEE Electron Device Letters (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA), Journal Name: IEEE Electron Device Letters (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA) Vol. 11:1; ISSN EDLED; ISSN 0741-3106
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
BACK CONTACT SOLAR CELLS
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
CURRENT DENSITY
DESIGN
DIFFUSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING