Low cost fabrication for high efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells

The aim of photovoltaic research is to produce a low cost highly efficient solar cell. This work is an attempt at the same. It introduces a simplified processing technique to produce a 17.1% efficiency solar cell. Emitter diffusion is carried out in a single step, using spin on dopant P509 as a phosphorus source, aiming at reducing contamination and thermal defects. Back contacts are fixed in mechanical groves made in the emitter, reaching to the base, which is found very effective in edge shunting isolation. The method can be improved to process higher efficiency solar cells.