Large area, concentrator buried contact solar cells

Abstract

Considerable interest has been shown commercially in the buried contact solar cell (BCSC) approach, particularly for large area one-sun cells and large area concentrator cells. Efficiencies in the range of 21-22% have been independently confirmed by Sandia National Laboratories for a 20-cm/sup 2/ device operating at 20 suns using prismatic covers. An alternative, innovative approach for groove and metallization formation has enabled the demonstration of similar efficiencies but without the use of prismatic covers. These are believed to be the highest reported efficiencies by a clear margin for any concentrator cell of this size.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>