Summary of high-efficiency solar-cell research

High-efficiency solar-cell activities supporting efforts to achieve the DOE Five-Year Plan goals are summarized. Specific objectives are to identify and resolve key generic problems that limit cell efficiency to below theoretically predicted values and to design and fabricate cells having efficiences equal to or greater than 20% (AM1.5). Theoretical curves for various p-n junction cells were shown. The effects of practical barriers on cell efficiency was depicted along with the modeling parameters. Cell design parameters used in the analyses were described. The usefulness and present limitations of the existing modeling capabilities were presented. The historical evolution of the efficiencies of cells made from web and edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) silicon ribbons were also described. The status of contemporary higher-efficiency technical capabilities and future activities to raise efficiencies were stated.