Enhancement of efficiency in monocrystalline silicon solar cells

Abstract

As the representative of the first generation of solar cells, crystalline silicon solar cells still dominate the photovoltaic market, including monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon cells. With the development of silicon materials and cut-silicon wafer technologies, monocrystalline products have become more cost-effective, accelerating the replacement of polycrystalline products. In addition, the conversion efficiency of monocrystalline products increases gradually through high-efficiency cell technologies such as Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC). This paper will start with the solar cell efficiency and combine cost factor, the P-type PERC cell and additional four types of high-efficiency N-type cell technologies to improve the conversion efficiency for exploration, and will analyze and predict the future solar cell industrialization technologies. The study finally concludes that the N-type Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact solar cell technology has a large industrial potential and could become a mainstream technology after the perc cell technology. At the same time, Interdigitated back contact cell structure and selective all-passive contact technologies are reliable paths to obtain solar cells with high conversion efficiency, integrated cost, and efficiency, depending on the advantages and compatibility of various cells. It can create conditions for the industrialization of low- cost and high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells.