Performance improvement in simplified processing for screen-printed mc-Si solar cells

The effect of hydrofluoric (HF) acid treatments performed before and after contact formation on the performance of screen-printed solar cells was examined. The use of silicon-oxide-glass (SOG) for junction separation and its required chemical treatments after diffusion were investigated. The required dipping time in HF solution was less than 2 min. The best solar cells were obtained when the contacts were fired in air ambient at 750 /spl deg/ for 4 min. The highest conversion efficiency in simplified solar cell is obtained after a 50-sec dip in HF after contact formation.