Integrating industrial black silicon with high efficiency multicrystalline solar cells

Black silicon is an innovative, emerging technology that has high potential to drive down the cost of silicon solar cells and modules. It can reduce front surface reflection losses to negligible levels and be applied to any type of silicon substrate, therefore enabling cost saving diamond-wire sawing of lower cost silicon. However, black silicon’s nanoscaled features present a challenge for integration into commercial solar manufacturing. This project will study the interaction of nanotextured surfaces with processing technologies including advanced hydrogenation, surface passivation and high efficiency emitter formation (including laser doping). Conventional and novel processing solutions will be investigated and optimised in order to best enable the use of black silicon in stabilised high efficiency solar cells. Furthermore, the project will advance the understanding and modelling of the fundamental optical behaviour of nanotextured solar cell surfaces, accelerating future innovations in texturing technology. The project brings together world experts in optics, cell processing and characterisation with leading industrial manufacturers of black silicon (Canadian Solar, 1366). It provides an important platform to integrate existing Australian IP into the next generation of solar cell surface morphology. Ultimately it delivers an industrially relevant approach to drive down the real cost of solar energy.