Understanding junction breakdown in multicrystalline solar cells

Breitenstein, O.; Schubert, M. C.; Wagner, J. M.; Warta, W.; Bauer, J.; Schneemann, M.; Rau, U.; Schmidt, J.; Lausch, D.; Kwapil, W.; Bothe, K.

doi:10.1063/1.3562200

Journal Article

Understanding junction breakdown in multicrystalline solar cells

Breitenstein, O. ; Bauer, J. ; Bothe, K. ; Kwapil, W. ; Lausch, D. ; Rau, U.FZJ* ; Schmidt, J. ; Schneemann, M.FZJ* ; Schubert, M. C. ; Wagner, J. M. ; Warta, W.

2011
American Institute of Physics Melville, NY

Journal of applied physics 109, 071101 (2011) [10.1063/1.3562200]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/7331 doi:10.1063/1.3562200

Abstract: Extensive investigations on industrial multicrystalline silicon solar cells have shown that, for standard 1 Omega cm material, acid-etched texturization, and in absence of strong ohmic shunts, there are three different types of breakdown appearing in different reverse bias ranges. Between -4 and -9 V there is early breakdown (type 1), which is due to Al contamination of the surface. Between -9 and -13 V defect-induced breakdown (type 2) dominates, which is due to metal-containing precipitates lying within recombination-active grain boundaries. Beyond -13 V we may find in addition avalanche breakdown (type 3) at etch pits, which is characterized by a steep slope of the I-V characteristic, avalanche carrier multiplication by impact ionization, and a negative temperature coefficient of the reverse current. If instead of acid-etching alkaline-etching is used, all these breakdown classes also appear, but their onset voltage is enlarged by several volts. Also for cells made from upgraded metallurgical grade material these classes can be distinguished. However, due to the higher net doping concentration of this material, their onset voltage is considerably reduced here. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3562200]

Keyword(s): J

Classification:

Physics, Applied

Note: This work was supported by the BMU Project No. 0 327 650 "SolarFocus." The authors are grateful to H. Blumtritt, N. Zakharov, U. Hlawatsch (all Halle), and A. Lotnyk (Kiel) for experimental cooperation and to T. Kirchartz (Julich) for discussing the text. WILEY-VCH (Weinheim) is acknowledged for their permission to reproduce Figs. 8-11.

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