Polycrystalline silicon‐film™ solar cells: Present and future

Abstract

AbstractFuture crystalline silicon solar cells will have increased performance and reduced cost. Increased performance will come from thin silicon with light trapping, provided that it includes back‐surface passivation. Cost reduction will come from the growth of this thin silicon light‐trapping structure on a low‐cost substrate. the silicon will be polycrystalline. Solar cells formed with thin (< 50 μm) silicon active layers can produce higher conversion efficiencies at reduced material requirements than conventional ingot‐based silicon devices. This paper presents the essential features of high‐performance device design based on thin silicon layers, the design features of the Silicon‐Film−TM technology, the sequence of products that emerge from its development and recent results from the first commercial‐scale, large‐area (225 cm−2) Silicon‐Film−TM solar cell product.