Committee:

Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, ECE, Chair , Advisor

Dr. Thomas Gaylord, ECE

Dr. Bernard Kippelen, ECE

Dr. Andrew Peterson, ECE

Dr. Hao-Min Zhou, Math

Abstract:

The objective of this research is to achieve low-cost high-efficiency commercial-ready passivated emitter rear solar cells (PERC). Two specific aims are: 1) modeling and fabrication of high efficiency solar cells to reduce module cost for a given power output, and 2) reducing or eliminating of the widely observed light-induced degradation in PERC cells to increase power output for a given time. In the first part, fabrication of high-efficiency commercial-ready solar cells is achieved by technology innovations such as ion-implantation, multi-busbar, new screen design, field effect passivation by negative charge injection and selective emitter. Also, a practical and manufacturable PERC cell efficiency roadmap is established by Sentaurus 2D device modeling. In the second part, indium doped PERC solar cells are fabricated to eliminate light-induced degradation, since the source of degradation is boron-oxygen complexes in the boron doped p-type wafer. Also, a regeneration treatment to deactivate boron-oxygen complexes by appropriate light and heat exposure is developed to achieve stabilized boron-doped PERC solar cells.