Radial junction silicon solar cells with micro-pillar array and planar electrode interface for improved photon management and carrier extraction

Abstract

We demonstrate radial p-n junction silicon solar cells with micro-pillar array with higher short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage than comparable planar silicon solar cells. Micro-pillar array, fabricated by RIE, acts as an effective anti-reflection coating for visible light with less than 6% reflection. Compared to devices with planar surface, devices with micro-pillar array show a 27% enhancement in short circuit current. The radial p-n junction of the micro-pillars also improves extraction probability of the photogenerated carriers, which further increases the short circuit current. Typically, micro-pillar solar cells suffer from high recombination losses at the Si/metal interface, resulting in poor VOC. Our devices prevent these recombination losses by planarizing the Si/metal interface, leading to an open circuit voltage of 622 mV, the highest ever reported for micro-pillar solar cells. This planarized contact also reduces the series resistance associated with radial junctions, leading to series resistance of ≤0.50 Ω-cm2 and fill factors up to 76.7%.