Imec reports large-area silicon solar cells with hiqh efficiency

摘要

At the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, which took place in Valencia, Spain, this month, Imec presented several large-area silicon solar cells with conversion efficiency greater than 19%. Imec realized two types of cells with silver-screen-printed contacts and copper-plated contacts. Efficiencies of cells with screen-printed contacts reached 19.1 %, and cells with copper-plated contacts achieved efficiencies of 19.4%. Imec attributes the efficiencies to several factors, including a combination of improved texturization and optimized firing conditions. Imec achieved the results on 148-cm~2, 170-micron-thick cells, proving the industrial viability of the process. Imec's silicon solar cells feature rear-side passivation, laser ablation, and local aluminum backside-field and screen-printed contacts or copper-plated contacts on advanced emitter schemes. Metallization schemes using screen-printed silver contacts enable compatibility with current industrial-metallization practice in the solar-cell industry, according to Joachim John, PhD, team manager for industrial solar cells at Imec.