Correlation of Different Electrical Parameters of Solar Cells with Silver Front Electrodes

Abstract

This work presents comparison results of the selected electrical parameters of silicon solar cells manufactured with silver front electrodes which were co-fired in an infrared belt furnace in the temperature range of 840–960 °C. The commercial paste (PV19B) was used for the metallization process. Electrical properties of a batch of solar cells fabricated in one cycle were investigated. Three methods were used, including measurement of the current-voltage characteristics (I-V), measurement of contacts’ resistivity using the transmission Line model method (TLM), and measurement of contacts’ resistivity using the potential difference method (PD). This work is focused on both the different metallization temperatures of co-firing of solar cells and measurements using the above-mentioned methods. It is shown that the solar cell parameters measured with three methods have different, but strongly correlated values. Moreover, the comparative analysis was performed of the investigations of the same photovoltaic solar cells using both the TLM method and independent research stands (including one non-commercial and two commercial ones) at three different scientific units. In the PD and TLM methods, the same calculation formulae are used. It can be stated, comparing methods I-V, PD, and TLM, that for each, different parameters are determined to assess the electrical properties of the solar cell.

Application of Neon Ion Implantation to Generate Intermediate Energy Levels in the Band Gap of Boron-Doped Silicon as a Material for Photovoltaic Cells

“…The research conducted by the authors of the article on the change of electrical parameters of silicon through the use of neon ion implantation [29][30][31][32] has led to the development of the author's method for producing and identifying additional energy levels in the band structure of semiconductors. This direction fits perfectly into the current research trend and is in line with the market trends of increasing use of ion implantation in PV cell production [33,34].…”

Comparison of the Values of Solar Cell Contact Resistivity Measured with the Transmission Line Method (TLM) and the Potential Difference (PD)

“…Figure 4 shows the results of measurements of the electrical properties of the first series of photovoltaic cells [ 34 ]. Based on the results obtained by testing the electrical properties of this series of photovoltaic cells, it was found that the lowest values for resistance and resistivity were obtained from samples with a firing temperature of 940 °C for both methods (TLM and PD).…”

“…As part of the experiment, the selected electrical parameters (i.e., resistance and resistivity of photovoltaic cells) were tested, and then, using the formulae contained in Table 1 , their values were determined [ 34 ]. In the TLM method, a row of five front electrodes (strip size—0.1 mm × 8 mm) with a variable distance between them (2.5; 5; 10; 30 mm) was used.…”

“… Graphical illustration of the methods of ( a ) TLM (where R—resistance; R p —surface resistance; I—current; U—voltage; k—electrode line length; d—distance between electrode path lines; L T —electrode line width to the effect of current; R c —contact resistance) and ( b ) PD (where w—path width; d—distance between the electrode path lines; L—path length; V—voltage on the front electrode, measured through a metal probe in direct contact with its surface) [ 33 , 34 ]. …”

“… List of electrical parameters—( a ) resistance and ( b ) resistivity—of photovoltaic cells with a front electrode applied using a template and made of commercial PV19B paste [ 34 ]. …”