Understanding and Advancing Bifacial Thin Film Solar Cells

Journal Article · 09 June 2020 · ACS Applied Energy Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.0c00851 · OSTI ID:1633392

Phillips, Adam B.  ^[1]; Subedi, Kamala Khanal ^[1]; Liyanage, Geethika K.  ^[1]; Alfadhili, Fadhil K. ^[1]; Ellingson, Randy J.  ^[1]; Heben, Michael J.  ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States)

Because bifacial solar cells increase the power generated per area, their market share is projected to increase over the next decade. While silicon technologies have implemented bifacial technology, little progress has occurred in bifacial thin film (BTF) solar cells. Understanding the factors that limit performance is critical to advancing BTF cells. We show that recombination at the back interface has limited device performance of fabricated BTF devices. Improved BTF performance will require decreasing recombination at the back interface, through passivation or by reducing downward band-bending at this interface. Increasing carrier lifetimes improves performance, but increasing hole density has little effect.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• Grant/Contract Number: EE0008974
• OSTI ID: 1633392
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1643990
• Journal Information: ACS Applied Energy Materials, Vol. 3, Issue 7; ISSN 2574-0962
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English