Solar Cells, 2nd Edition

Chapter IB-3

Thin Silicon Solar Cells

Michael Mauk, Paul Sims, James Rand and Allen Barnett¹

AstroPower Inc., Solar Park, Newark, Delaware, USA

Chapter Outline

1. Introduction, Background, and Scope of Review

2. Light Trapping in Thin Silicon Solar Cells

2.1. Methods of Implementing Light Trapping

2.1.1. Random Texturing

2.1.2. Geometrical or Regular Structuring

2.1.3. External Optical Elements

2.2. Assessment of Light-Trapping Effects

2.2.1. Short-Circuit Current Analysis of Light Trapping

2.2.2. ‘Sub-Band-Gap’ Reflection Analysis of Light Trapping

2.2.3. Extended Spectral-Response Analysis of Light Trapping

3. Voltage Enhancements in Thin Silicon Solar Cells

3.1. Minority-Carrier Recombination Issues in Thin Silicon Solar Cells

4. Silicon Deposition ...