Optimisation of industrial n-type silicon solar cells with aluminium-alloyed rear emitter by means of 2D numerical simulation

We present a detailed analysis on the optimisation of n-type silicon solar cells with aluminiumalloyed rear p+ emitter for industrial applications by means of two-dimensional numerical simulation in order to identify the potential and the limiting factors for this cell concept. It is demonstrated, that the characteristic solar cell parameters can be simulated very well taking two-dimensional effects into account, leading to an excellent agreement compared to the measured results. Based on these simulations we show a complete and continuative study on the optimisation of this solar cell concept, analysing gradually three different regions of the solar cell. Firstly, the influence of the front side is investigated discussing different front surface fields and how they perform with an additional selective front surface field below the front contacts. Secondly, the influence of the base is discussed and how doping concentrations and pitch variations influence each other. Finally, the back side of this solar cell concept is analysed, how variations of the aluminium-alloyed rear p+ emitters influence the cell performance.