Effects on Metallization of n<sup>+</sup>-Poly-Si Layer for N-Type Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact Solar Cells

oleh: Qinqin Wang, Beibei Gao, Wangping Wu, Kaiyuan Guo, Wei Huang, Jianning Ding

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-06-01

Deskripsi

Thin polysilicon (poly-Si)-based passivating contacts can reduce parasitic absorption and the cost of n-TOPCon solar cells. Herein, n<sup>+</sup>-poly-Si layers with thicknesses of 30~100 nm were fabricated by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) to create passivating contacts. We investigated the effect of n<sup>+</sup>-poly-Si layer thickness on the microstructure of the metallization contact formation, passivation, and electronic performance of n-TOPCon solar cells. The thickness of the poly-Si layer significantly affected the passivation of metallization-induced recombination under the metal contact (<i>J</i><sub>0,<i>metal</i></sub>) and the contact resistivity (<i>ρ<sub>c</sub></i>) of the cells. However, it had a minimal impact on the short-circuit current density (<i>J<sub>sc</sub></i>), which was primarily associated with corroded silver (Ag) at depths of the n<sup>+</sup>-poly-Si layer exceeding 40 nm. We introduced a thin n<sup>+</sup>-poly-Si layer with a thickness of 70 nm and a surface concentration of 5 × 10<sup>20</sup> atoms/cm<sup>3</sup>. This layer can meet the requirements for low <i>J</i><sub>0,<i>metal</i></sub> and <i>ρ<sub>c</sub></i> values, leading to an increase in conversion efficiency of 25.65%. This optimized process of depositing a phosphorus-doped poly-Si layer can be commercially applied in photovoltaics to reduce processing times and lower costs.