27.09%-efficiency silicon heterojunction back contact solar cell and going beyond

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 8931 - 12
• Main Authors: Wang, Genshun, Su, Qiao, Tang, Hanbo, Wu, Hua, Lin, Hao, Han, Can, Wang, Tingting, Xue, Chaowei, Lu, Junxiong, Fang, Liang, Li, Zhenguo, Xu, Xixiang, Gao, Pingqi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.10.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/299/946; 639/4077/909/4101/4096/946; Antireflection coatings; Carrier density; Carrier recombination; Charge efficiency; Current carriers; Efficiency; Electric contacts; Heterojunctions; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Pattern formation; Patterning; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Recombination; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silicon; Solar cells
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53275-5

Crystalline-silicon heterojunction back contact solar cells represent the forefront of photovoltaic technology, but encounter significant challenges in managing charge carrier recombination and transport to achieve high efficiency. In this study, we produced highly efficient heterojunction back contact solar cells with a certified efficiency of 27.09% using a laser patterning technique. Our findings indicate that recombination losses primarily arise from the hole-selective contact region and polarity boundaries. We propose solutions to these issues and establish a clear relationship between contact resistivity, series resistance, and the design of the rear-side pattern. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the wafer edge becomes the main channel for current density loss caused by carrier recombination once electrical shading around the electron-selective contact region is mitigated. With the advanced nanocrystalline passivating contact, wafer edge passivation technologies and meticulous optimization of front anti-reflection coating and rear reflector, achieving efficiencies as high as 27.7% is feasible. The management of charge carrier recombination and transport in heterojunction back contact solar cells poses significant challenges in achieving a high efficiency. Here, authors analyze various loss mechanisms of devices fabricated by laser patterning, and achieve a certified efficiency of 27.09%.