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 ABSTRACT

A detailed comparison between the performance of state-of-the-art industrial silicon solar cells with screenprinted metal contacts and with buried metal contacts is presented A theoretical study including a quasi-analytical model to determine the lateral current collection in buried contact cells, as well as detailed two-dimensional simulations, is carried out. The advantage of buried contact lies in the low front surface metal coverage, the very good Fill Factor, the possibility of implementing a selective emitter profile and good passivation. Due to these factores the efficiency of the buried contact cell is presently larger by 1.0-1.2% absolute than that of a screenprinted cell. An improved industrial screenprinting process in which continuous sub-60 sm wide metal lines are printed, and a selective emitter structure with an effective surface passivation is implemented would result in a solar cell efficiency comparable obtained using an advanced buried contact process, while leading to significant manufacturing cost reductions.