Interdigitated Back Contact Technology as Final Evolution for Industrial Crystalline Single-Junction Silicon Solar Cell

Abstract

We present our own Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) technology, which was developed at ISC Konstanz and implemented in mass production with and at SPIC Solar in Xining, China, with production efficiencies of over 24%. To our knowledge, this is the highest efficiency achieved in the mass production of crystalline silicon solar cells without the use of charge-carrier-selective contacts. With an adapted screen-printing sequence, it is possible to achieve open-circuit voltages of over 700 mV. Advanced module technology has been developed for the IBC interconnection, which is ultimately simpler than for conventional double-sided contacted solar cells. In the next step, we will realize low-cost charge-carrier-selective contacts for both polarities in a simple sequence using processes developed and patented at ISC Konstanz. With the industrialisation of this process, it will be possible to achieve efficiencies well above 25% at low cost. We will show that with the replacement of silver screen-printed contacts by copper or aluminium metallisation, future IBC technology will be the end product for the PV market, as it is the best performing c-Si technology, leading to the lowest cost of electricity, even in utility-scale applications.

Stable Passivation of Cut Edges in Encapsulated N-Type Silicon Solar Cells Using Nafion Polymer

“…The BSF edges samples were first textured in a KOH bath with a texture additive, and then double-sided diffused with POCl 3 . Solar cells were fabricated using our best-known method (BKM) described previously [36,37]. One of the features is that the passivation layer was in-situ grown SiO 2 and then capped with SiN 𝑥 [38].…”

Performance Assessment of Cell-Separation Processes for Rear-Contact Solar Cells: Comparison of Indoor and Outdoor Measurements

“…In addition to their improved performance, IBC solar cells also provide a more aesthetic appearance which makes these cells perfect candidates for special applications in building-integrated or vehicle-integrated photovoltaics. The effect of laser-cutting IBC solar cells has been discussed, for example, in references [7,8].…”

Characterization of tunnel oxide passivated contact fabricated by sputtering and ion implantation technique

“…The production line of PERC solar cells can be easily upgraded to a production line of TOPCon solar cells by adding a few additional processes. 10) Therefore, PERC solar cells are expected to be replaced by TOPCon solar cells, because a higher conversion efficiency is expected for TOPCon solar cells. The structures of PERC and TOPCon solar cells are shown in Fig.…”