Analysis of cast mono-crystalline ingot characteristics with applications to solar cells

In this paper we investigate the performance of commercial cast mono-crystalline (cast-mono) ingots provided by two industrial vendors (Vendors A and B). Samples were analyzed from the top, middle, and bottom regions of the central, side, and the corner bricks. Using a conventional Al-BSF cell structure we fabricated cells on wafers from each region. Cell efficiencies up to 18.2% and 18.3% were achieved on cells fabricated from the center bricks. Cells fabricated from other regions where limited by optical and bulk properties. In addition it is found that cast-mono cells show much less light induced degradation (LID) relative to the widely used mono-crystalline Czochralski (Cz) cells.