Highly efficient industrially feasible metal wrap through (MWT) silicon solar cells

A novel, industrially feasible metal wrap through (MWT) solar cell has been designed and realized utilizing a Si-oxide layer as diffusion barrier for separating the polarities on both sides and fine line screen-printing for the front contact grid. A maximum efficiency of 18.6% is measured under standard test conditions using the Am1.5 g spectrum (0.1 W/cm2) according to the international standard (CEI/IEC 904-3). This is so far the highest conversion efficiency achieved by a silicon MWT solar cell. By adapting the grid for higher irradiation an efficiency of 19.5% at a concentration ratio of six and an efficiency exceeding 18% at 20 suns are achieved (each Am1.5 g).