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Published June 2016 | public
Book Section - Chapter

Effectively transparent contacts (ETCs) for solar cells

Abstract

We have developed effectively transparent contacts (ETCs) that allow for increased current in heterojunction solar cells. Micro-meter scaled triangular cross-section grid fingers with micro-meter scaled distance redirect light efficiently to the active area of the solar cell and hence, omit losses through reflection at the front finger grid. Furthermore, the grid fingers are placed close together such that only a very thin layer of transparent conductive oxides (TCO) is necessary which avoids parasitic absorption and can decrease material costs. In this paper we experimentally show current enhancement of ~2 mA/cm^2 in silicon heterojunction solar cells using ETCs. 1 mA/cm^2 is gained through less parasitic absorption and 1 mA/cm^2 is gained by efficient redirection of light and therefore, absent shadowing losses.

Additional Information

© 2016 IEEE. This material was based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Bay Area Photovoltaic Consortium under Award Number DE-EE0004946 and by the Engineering Research Center Program of the National Science Foundation and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the Department of Energy under NSF Cooperative Agreement No. EEC-1041895. Authors and their work presented herein are funded in part by the Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program, under Award Number DE-EE0006335. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation or Department of Energy. S.Y. acknowledges the Kavli Nanoscience Institute and the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis.

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023