Influence of ITO-silver wire electrode structure on the performance of single-crystal silicon solar cells

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effect of various electrode forms on single-crystal silicon solar cells by changing their front and back electrode structures. The high light penetration depth of the Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and the high conductivity of the silver wire that were coated on the single crystal silicon solar cells increased photoelectron export, thus increasing the efficiency of the solar cell. The experiment utilized a sol-gel solution containing phosphorus that was spin coated on single-crystal silicon wafers; this phosphorus also served as a phosphorus diffusion source. A p-n junction was formed after annealing at high temperature, and the substrate was coated with silver wires and ITO films of various structures to produce the electrodes. This study proposed that applying a heat treatment to the aluminum of back electrodes would result in a higher efficiency for single-crystal silicon solar cells, whereas single-crystal silicon solar cells containing front electrodes with ITO film coated with silver wires would result in efficiencies that are higher than those achieved using pure ITO thin-film electrodes. Copyright © 2012 Wern-Dare Jheng.