IMEC, Belgium will be increased efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells to 7.5%
Belgian research institute IMEC has announced the trial in the thickness of the active layer as thin as 10μm silicon solar cells, but also received 7.5% of energy efficiency. Reduces the thickness of the new laptop battery to reduce the amount of silicon can be said that the development of high efficiency solar cells a step forward.
IMEC, before they are committed to the achievement of silicon thin film crystalline solar cell technology issues. Prior to that, solar cells in monocrystalline silicon is equal to or greater than the thickness of 150μm, must make a lot of silicon. This reduces not only the thickness but also by the growth of the rule of law in the layer of silicon crystals, and therefore did not produce cutting debris, and can significantly reduce the amount of the benefits of silicon.
However, if you only reduce the thickness of the case, now there are only 1 ~ 2μm thick amorphous silicon solar cells. However, the efficiency of solar cells in amorphous silicon on a single node where the limit is 6 ~ 8%.
The production of solar cells is the following: the adoption of post-treatment to be part of the glass for crystallization of the glass ceramic substrate (IMEC) to form a thin layer of crystalline silicon species, and therefore, in its top so that the activity of monocrystalline silicon layer epitaxy (epitaxial) growth. Obtained a slightly higher yield than the 7.5% energy efficiency of solar cells in amorphous silicon, but is expected to slightly adjust the structure of the electrode IMEC can be more than 9%. In addition, dell x300 battery reflection “Light and light sealing structure has not yet been any improvement. If you include these improvements are expected to 5μ ~ 10μm thick with cell activity in crystalline silicon solar to over 15% efficiency (IMEC).
IMEC said: “In the long term we hope to develop the method without the need for epitaxial growth, which further reduces costs.” The agency has tried to adopt an annealing process of porous silicon (sintering) METHOD prototype solar cells. Achieved an efficiency of 2.6%.