Mpact of laser surface modification on polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell by means of CO2 laser

Abstract

In this research, we investigate the effect of laser texturing on the photo-electrical properties of the polycrystalline silicon solar cell. Laser surface texturing technique was used to achieve the texturing results, which based on the interaction between pulsed CO2 laser (10.6μm) and polycrystalline silicon used for solar cells. Four of photovoltaic solar cells have been textured in two dimensions in different ranges (1 cm x 1cm and 2 cm x 2 cm) with different line spacing. Solar cells with laser-modified surface were characterized by SEM as well as photo-electrically before and after texturing process. The obtained results showed that laser surface texturing with small grooves spacing, results in increasing of the melted silicon surface area which enhance the silicon electrical properties. Furthermore, it increases the optical path length inside the solar cell which enhances light trapping.