High efficiency, low cost buried contact silicon solar cells

The buried contact (BC) technology has demonstrated both an efficiency and cost advantage over conventional screen printed solar cells. New BC structures, in particular the double sided (DS) BC cell, allow further improvements in cost and efficiency. Improvements in efficiency arise through improved rear surface passivation. Experimental results from DSBC cells using various passivation methods demonstrate that a floating junction (FJ) passivates as well as passivation schemes used with high efficiency cells. 2D analysis and experimental results both show localised defects have prevented FJ passivation from achieving its potential and that optimization of the rear doping or by bifacial operation can improve performance.