Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Design, Optimization and Characterisation of IBC c-Si (n) Solar Cell

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Silicon Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The integrated-back contact (IBC) solar cell has attracted wide attention due to its high conversion efficiency, low processing temperature, and thinner substrate from the emerging light trapping of silicon on the pyramidal textured surface. In this paper, a novel IBC solar cell design optimization based on the n-type crystalline silicon wafer was simulated in 2D using Silvaco TCAD tools and the obtained results were compared to the recently published works which allow us to identify the optimum IBC solar cell configuration. In addition, the 2D simulation results are compared to the obtained results by IMEC using SolayTec’ ALD (atomic layer deposition) technique. The numerical simulation leads to attaining 24.79% conversion efficiency and 726 mV open-circuit voltage for the considered n-type mono-crystalline silicon solar cell under the AM1.5 spectrum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jacobson MZ, Delucchi MA (2011) Providing all global energy with wind, water, and solar power, Part I: Technologies, energy resources, quantities and areas of infrastructure, and materials. Enrgy Policy 39:1154–1169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Boukortt N, Patanè S, Hadri B (2018) Development of High-Efficiency PERC Solar Cells Using Atlas Silvaco. Silicon. 1(7):145–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-018-9838-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. P. J Cousins et al, 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference 275 (2010)

  4. Previti F, Patane S, Allegrini M (2009) Polymer heterostructures with embedded carbon nanotubes for efficient photovoltaic cells. Appl Surf Sci 255:9877–9879

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cataldo S, Fabiano S, Ferrante F, Previti F, Patanè S, Pignataro B (2010) Organoboron Polymers for Photovoltaic Bulk Heterojunctions. Macromol Rapid Commun 31:1281–1286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. A. B. Djurišić, F. Z. Liu, H. W. Tam, M. K. Wong, , A. Ng, C. Surya, W. Chen, Z.B. He, Prog Quant Electron, 53: 1 (2017), Perovskite solar cells - An overview of critical issues, 37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mesquita I, Andrade L, Mendes A (2018) Perovskite solar cells: Materials, configurations and stability. Renew Sust Energ Rev 82:2471–2489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Li Z, Klein TR, Kim DH, Yang M, Berry JJ, van Hest MFAM, Zhu K (2018) Scalable fabrication of perovskite solar cells. Nat Rev Mater 3:18017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Guney MS (2016). Renew Sust Energ Rev 25:776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Mo CB et al (2012) 27th EUPVSEC. Frankfurt, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  11. S. E. Bosch, Press release (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  12. A. Halm et al.,27th EUPVSEC, Frankfurt, Germany (2012)

  13. Boukortt N, Hadri B (2018) Simulation of Electrical Characteristics of PERC Solar Cells. J Electron Mater 1:7–5832. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-018-6456-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Van Overstraeten R (1994) Crystalline silicon solar cells. Renew Energy 5, Part I:103–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Nieuwenhuysen KV et al (2012) European photovoltaic solar energy conference and exhibition27th edn, pp 2471–2474

    Google Scholar 

  16. S. Singh et al., 29th European photovoltaic solar energy conference and exhibition, (EU PVSEC 2014)

  17. M. Aleman Silicon PV et al., Enrgy Proced 27, 638–645 (2012)

  18. E. Franklin and et al, Prog. Photovolt: Res Appl (2014)

  19. Green MA, Blakers AW, Kurianski J, Narayanan S, Shi J, Szpitalak T, Taouk M, Wenham SR, Willison MR Ultimate performance silicon solar cells, Final Report, NERDDP Project 81/1264, 83 (1984)

  20. Mat Desa MK, Sapeai S, Azhari AW, Sopian K, Sulaiman MY, Amin N, Zaidi SH (2016) Silicon back contact solar cell configuration: A pathway towards higher efficiency. Renew Sust Energ Rev 60:1516–1532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Boukortt N, Patanè S, Hadri B (2018) Electrical Characterization of n-ZnO/c-Si 2D Heterojunction Solar Cell by Using TCAD Tools. Silicon. 1:7–2199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-017-9750-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Silvaco International, Atlas User's manual device simulation software (Santa Clara: Silvaco international: 2016)

  23. Olindo I, Klaus J, Arno S, René van S, Miro Z (2016) Solar energy: the physics and engineering of photovoltaic conversion, technologies and systems. UIT Cambridge ltd 1st Ed, pp. 488

    Google Scholar 

  24. Wolf A, Biro D, Nekarda J, Stumpp S, Kimmerle A, Mack S, Preu R (2010) Comprehensive analytical model for locally contacted rear surface passivated solar cells. J Appl Phys 108:124510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Yang G, Ingenito A, Isabella O, Zeman M (2016) IBC c-Si solar cells based on ion-implanted poly-silicon passivating contacts. Sol Energ Mat Sol C 158:84–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Green MA (1981) Solar cell fill factors: General graph and empirical expressions. Solid State Electron 24:788–789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Renewable Resource Data Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/spectra/am1.5/, (2004)

  28. Haase F, Kiefer F, Schäfer S, Kruse C, Krügener J, Brendel R, Peibst R (2017) Interdigitated back contact solar cells with polycrystalline silicon on oxide passivating contacts for both polarities. Jpn J Appl Phys 56:08MB15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. D. L. King, Photovoltaic module and array performance characterization methods for all system operating conditions. Proceeding of NREL/SNL Photovoltaics Program Review Meeting, Lakewood, CO, USA, 347–368 (1996)

  30. I. Cesar et al., 7th international conference on silicon photovoltaics, SiliconPV 2017, Enrgy Proced 124, 834–841 (2017)

  31. Belarbi M, Beghdad M, Mekemeche A (2016) Simulation and optimization of n-type interdigitated back contact silicon heterojunction ( IBC - SiHJ ) solar cell structure using Silvaco Tcad Atlas. Sol Energy 127:206–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. King DL, Boyson WE, Kratochvil JA (2004) Photovoltaic array performance model. Sandia National Laboratories report, pp SAND2004–SAND3535

    Google Scholar 

  33. D. L. King, Photovoltaic module and array performance characterization methods for all system operating conditions. Proceeding of NREL/SNL Photovoltaics Program Review Meeting, Lakewood, CO, U.S.A., 347–368 (1996)

  34. Sze SM, Ng KK (2006) Physics of semiconductor devices3rd edn. Wiley, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  35. King DL, Kratochvil JA, Boyson WE, Bower WI (1998) Field experience with a new performance characterization procedure for photovoltaic arrays. Proceeding of the 2nd world conference and exhibition on photovoltaic solar energy conversion, Vienna, Austria, pp 1947–1952

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research work is partially supported by Semiconductor Laboratory (GE01/08), Kuwait University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electronic and Communications Engineering Department, Kuwait College of Science and Technology, Road N. 7, Doha, Kuwait

    Nour El Islam Boukortt

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze Della Terra, University of Messina, 98166, Messina, Italy

    Nour El Islam Boukortt & Salvatore Patanè

  3. Applied Physics Department, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain

    Feriel Bouhjar

  4. Photovoltaic Laboratory, Research and Technology Centre of Energy, Borj-Cedria Science and Technology Park, BP 95,2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Feriel Bouhjar

Authors
  1. Nour El Islam Boukortt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Salvatore Patanè
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Feriel Bouhjar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nour El Islam Boukortt.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Boukortt, N.E.I., Patanè, S. & Bouhjar, F. Design, Optimization and Characterisation of IBC c-Si (n) Solar Cell. Silicon 12, 365–372 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-019-00136-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-019-00136-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation