The role of laser ablated backside contact pattern in efficiency improvement of mono crystalline silicon PERC solar cells. (15th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiu, Jih-Sheng; Zhao, Yi-Man; Zhang, Sam; Wuu, Dong-Sing
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 196(2020)
• Page Start: 462
• Page End: 467
• Publication Date: 2020-01-15
• Subjects: Mono crystalline silicon -- Solar cell -- PERC -- Laser ablation -- Opening ratio; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.12.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: Void formation on rear-side contacts of PERC cells affects conversion efficiency. Smaller laser opening width and larger backside line spacing may form voids. Higher laser ablation power resulted in barely dark region from EL measurements. Efficiency of 22.25% for monocrystalline Si PERC solar cell was achieved. Abstract: The passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC), with advantages of reducing rear surface recombination and improving rear surface reflectivity, is extensively applied in monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon solar cells. In this study, we investigated the rear PERC structure with various contact patterns (type I to VI) and line spacings (800–1000 µm) using 156.75 mm × 156.75 mm p-type Czochralski mono crystalline silicon wafers. The void formation on the rear-side contacts of PERC structures played an important role in affecting conversion efficiencies. A smaller laser ablated opening width may easily lead to the formation of voids under screen printing and co-firing backside aluminum. Further evidence from the electroluminescence (EL) measurements confirmed that the higher laser ablation power would result in a slightly dark region for the solar cell with a rear-side contact opening width greater than 45 µm. The type III backside contact pattern (dash 2:1) with a line spacing of 900 µm surpassed all other contact patterns owing to its excellent aluminum back surface field. As a result, by optimizing both the backside contact pattern and line spacing of PERC solar cells, the best conversion efficiency of 22.25% and 20.9% for the average PERC solar cells were achieved.