SBIR Phase I: Ultra-Thin Silicon Solar Cells with Novel Junction Design

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发一种具有独特结设计的硅太阳能电池，随着太阳能电池厚度的减小，这种硅太阳能电池将提供协同效益。 薄硅太阳能电池目前是强烈关注的主题，因为与常规体硅太阳能电池相比：（a）它们可以通过“无切口”技术生产，与常规电池相比，该技术导致硅的使用量很小，以及（B）它们减少的复合体积导致更高的开路电压并因此导致更高的效率。 然而，迄今为止，薄硅太阳能电池的开路电压和效率通常没有超过它们的体硅对应物。 我们的结设计将有助于实现这些系统中高开路电压的承诺，最终实现超过20%的效率，而硅用量不到传统硅太阳能电池的5%。 第一阶段的努力将实现开路电压大于700 mV和效率大于19%的超薄（10微米）电池与工业上可行的太阳能电池设计。 在第二阶段及以后，我们将把这些发现转化为中试规模的生产工具，并展示效率超过20%的超薄硅太阳能电池。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力如下。 如果成功，该项目将通过从根本上减少太阳能电池中使用的硅量和提高电池效率，帮助实现低成本的光伏发电。 此外，我们的工艺还能生产出独特的物理坚固的薄硅晶片，这将提高下游的生产良率，进一步降低成本。 该项目还将通过探索新颖的结设计来推进太阳能电池的基础科学。 在第一阶段，我们的团队将在致力于光化学的重要会议上展示成果，并在同行评审的技术期刊上发表有关该技术的文章。 在商业上，我们计划与制造工具供应商合作，以试验规模展示新的集成晶圆。 太阳能电池和模块可以很容易地完成使用搁浅的太阳能制造资产在美国。 我们将进一步与大型制造商合作，将这项技术推向市场。 它特别适合屋顶产品，这将创造一个机会，与目前没有从事太阳能产品业务的制造商合作。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a silicon solar cell with unique junction design that provides synergistic benefits as the thickness of the solar cell is reduced. Thin silicon solar cells are currently the subject of intense interest because, in comparison to conventional bulk silicon solar cells: (a) they can be produced by "kerfless" techniques that result in a tiny fraction of silicon usage, as compared to conventional cells, and (b) their reduced recombination volume leads to higher open circuit voltage and therefore higher efficiency. To date, however, the open circuit voltages and efficiencies of thin silicon solar cells have generally not exceeded their bulk silicon counterparts. Our junction design will help fulfill the promise of high open circuit voltage in these systems, ultimately enabling greater than 20% efficiency with less than 5% of the silicon usage of conventional silicon solar cells. The Phase I effort will achieve open circuit voltage greater than 700 mV and efficiency greater than 19% for ultra-thin (10 micron) cells with an industrially feasible solar cell design. In Phase II and beyond, we will transition these findings to pilot-scale production tools and demonstrate greater than 20% efficient ultra-thin silicon solar cells.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is as follows. If successful, this project will help enable lower-cost generation of electricity by photovoltaics, by radically reducing the amount of silicon used in the solar cell and by boosting cell efficiency. In addition, our process leads to a uniquely physically robust thin Si wafer, which will lead to increased downstream manufacturing yield, further lowering cost. This project will also advance the basic science of solar cells by exploring a novel junction design. In Phase I, our team will present results at prominent conferences devoted to photovoltaics, and publish articles on this technology in peer-reviewed technical journals. Commercially, we plan to partner with manufacturing tool suppliers to demonstrate the new integrated wafer at pilot scale. The solar cells and modules can be readily finished using stranded solar manufacturing assets in the United States. We will further partner with large-scale manufacturers to bring this technology to market. It is uniquely suited to rooftop products, which will create an opportunity to partner with manufacturers who are not presently in the solar products business.