Thin silicon-on-ceramic solar cells

Author

DelleDonne, Emanuel ; Ingram, Alan ; Jonczyk, Ralf ; Yaskoff, Josh ; Sims, Paul ; Rand, James ; Barnett, Allen

Author_Institution

AstroPower Inc., Newark, DE, USA

fYear

2002

fDate

19-24 May 2002

Firstpage

82

Lastpage

85

Abstract

AstroPower is developing an advanced photovoltaic module product based on thin silicon-on-ceramic substrates. This paper reviews motivations, technical approaches and electrical results for single device cells that benefit the development of a monolithically interconnected solar array product. A short circuit current density of 25.8 mA/cm² was achieved in a single cell device that demonstrates significant light trapping and excellent back surface passivation. A 9.1% efficient thin film silicon-on-ceramic solar cell was demonstrated using a thermal spray technique. These accomplishments form a basis for the continued research and development towards a new class of thin-silicon solar cell products.

Keywords

current density; elemental semiconductors; semiconductor growth; semiconductor thin films; silicon; solar cells; spray coatings; 9.1 percent; Si; Si-on-ceramic solar cells; back surface passivation; monolithically interconnected solar array product; photovoltaic module product; short circuit current density; significant light trapping; single cell device; thin silicon-on-ceramic solar cells; Integrated circuit interconnections; Passivation; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Semiconductor thin films; Short circuit currents; Solar power generation; Substrates; Thermal spraying; Thin film circuits;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002. Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE

ISSN

1060-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7471-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2002.1190461

Filename

1190461