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Current status of silicon solar cell technologyRecent advances in solar cell technology have led to the development of laboratory cells with efficiencies above 15% and production cells with efficiencies in the area of 13%. The increased output is largely the result of increases in the short-circuit current. The most significant gain in the amount of light entering the cell has been obtained through surface texturing by chemical etching techniques. Sheet resistances resulting from phosphorus diffusion in the 800 C temperature range yield junction depths on the order of 0.1 micrometer, leading to significant increases in the blue region of the cell spectral response. The inclusion of a back surface field in 10 ohm-cm cells has produced an increase in open-circuit voltage of about 50 mV and an increase in the minority carrier lifetime. It appears that a low emitter efficiency of the diffused region is the cause of poor voltages. Future research will be primarily directed toward correcting this deficiency and toward the development of low cost production methods.
Document ID
19760035536
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Brandhorst, H. W., Jr.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1975
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Meeting Information
Meeting: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, International Electron Devices Meeting
Location: Washington, DC
Start Date: December 1, 1975
End Date: December 3, 1975
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Accession Number
76A18502
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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