Crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells on silicon nitride ceramic substrates

Abstract

Specially developed Si3N4 ceramic substrates for crystalline silicon thin-film (CSiTF) solar cells are unveiled by the authors. On 1 cm2 cells, efficiencies up to 8.0% could be achieved, with excellent fill factors up to 74% and open circuit voltages up to 554 mV. The potential of this solar cell structure was calculated with semiconductor simulation software, which predicts that efficiencies of 12%-15% should be technically achievable.