Moly-poly solar cell: Industrial application of metal-oxide passivating contacts with a starting efficiency of 18.1%

Pierpaolo Spinelli*, Mike Ah Sen, Eelko G. Hoek, Benjamin W.J. Kikkert, Guangtao Yang, Olindo Isabella, Arthur W. Weeber, Paula C.P. Bronsveld

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present large-area "moly-poly" cells, with a front side MoOx/a-Si:H(i) passivating contact and a rear-side poly-Si/SiOx stack, and we have demonstrated that MoOx based c-Si solar cell technology can be scaled to industrial wafer size. Excellent surface passivation was achieved using MoOx and poly-Si, leading to implied Voc values above 700 mV, and a final cell Voc of 687 mV. However, some care needs to be taken to avoid parasitic optical losses in the infra-red (IR) spectral range due to free-carrier absorption (FCA). These losses were investigated by comparing poly-Si layers of different thicknesses, deposited by low-pressure or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD or PECVD), at the rear side of moly-poly cells. We found that ultra-thin PECVD layers are most suitable for solar cell applications due to a very good trade-off between surface passivation and reduced FCA. Based on this result, a 18.1% efficient 9.2 × 9.2 cm2 moly-poly cell was made, which is the highest reported efficiency so far for moly-poly cells. Finally, we present a preliminary study of the parasitic IR losses in the MoOx layer itself, when deposited on either a-Si:H or SiOx passivation layers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSiliconPV 2018, the 8th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics
EditorsRolf Brendel, Jef Poortmans, Arthur Weeber, Giso Hahn, Christophe Ballif, Stefan Glunz, Pierre-Jean Ribeyron
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics
Number of pages8
Volume1999
ISBN (Print)978-073541715-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
EventSiliconPV 2018: The 8th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics - Lausanne, Switzerland
Duration: 19 Mar 201821 Mar 2018

Conference

ConferenceSiliconPV 2018: The 8th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics
Country/TerritorySwitzerland
CityLausanne
Period19/03/1821/03/18

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