Eco Factor: Highly efficient large-area silicon solar cells.
Belgian research lab IMEC has unveiled several large-area silicon solar cells with a conversion efficiency of more than 19 percent. The lab realized two types of cells with silver screen-printed contacts and plated copper contacts. Efficiencies of the cells with screen-printed contacts were up to 19.1 percent whereas 19.4 percent efficiency was achieved with copper plated contacts.
IMEC’s record efficiency silicon solar cells feature rear-side passivation, laser ablation and, local aluminum back-side field and screen-printed contacts or copper-plated contacts on advanced emitter schemes. The results were achieved on large-area cells (148cm2) with 170µm thickness, proving the industrial viability of the process.
Via: IMEC [Press Release]
