Silicon Nanowire Solar Cells: From Basic Research to Mass Production

Abstract

Si solar cells have played an extremely important role in the present photovoltaic industry. Modern physics and material research have promoted significantly the application of semiconductor nanostructures in solar cells. In this invited talk, we will present the growth, light trapping and carrier recombination properties of Si nanowires and their two kinds of Si nanowire based solar cell application. The planar Si nanowire array solar cells have been demonstrated for potential increase the efficiency of the crystalline Si solar cells at a low-cost way. We will show under the present industrial manufacture processes the successful suppression of carrier recombination and realization of high performance silicon nanowire based solar cells in large size through the SiO2/SiNx stack passivation via reducing both the Shockley-Reed-Hall recombination and the near-surface Auger recombination. This opens a potential prospect for the mass production of high efficient Si nanowire solar cells with small modifications on the diffusion process and the stack passivation. In addition, we will also discuss the radial Si nanowire solar cells for the next generation low-cost Si solar cell production.