An analysis of a "dead layer" in the emitter of n/sup +/pp/sup +/ solar cells

In this paper, the results obtained from fabrication and characterizations of n/sup +/pp/sup +/ solar cells are presented. The existence of a dead layer in the emitter was inferred regarding to the poor quantum efficiency of the cells under short wavelength region. The effects of this layer on the solar cell performance have been analyzed using the theoretical model and demonstrated in the term of low collection efficiency near the top surface of the emitter and high front surface recombination velocity.