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Review of Rear Emitter Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells

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Abstract

This inclusive study provides detailed information regarding the evolution of rear emitter silicon heterojunction solar cells. Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells of a p-type on the rear side have garnered increasing attention for various reasons. First, owing to a limitation of the p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer, further optimization relative to an n-type cannot be achieved, and an accumulation of electrons at the front side allows utilizing an n-type wafer to affirm a lateral current transport. Second, better thin n-type nanocrystalline silicon (oxide) contact layers compared to p-type wafers are grown, and allow greater freedom in the structural design. The optical properties of the front side’s transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer can be emphasized owing to a lateral transport on the cells, and majority of the carriers are affirmed through a Si substrate. In the instance of a rear emitter, the TCO layer is in relief to an adjustment inhibiting the contact resistance between TCO/a-Si:H(p). The fabrication was done in such a manner of SHJ rear emitter solar cells that they achieve greater optimization and overall efficiency of 23.46%.

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Fig. 1
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Reprinted from [29], with the permission from Elsevier

Fig. 3

Reprinted from [29], with the permission from Elsevier

Fig. 4

Reprinted from [31], with the permission from John Wiley and Sons

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of (No. 20193010014780) and (No.20173010012940).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea

    Muhammad Quddamah Khokhar, Sunhwa Lee, Duy Phong Pham, Youngkuk Kim, Eun-Chel Cho & Junsin Yi

  2. Department of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Shahzada Qamar Hussain

  3. Department of Energy Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Natural Sciences Campus, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea

    Sangho Kim

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  1. Muhammad Quddamah Khokhar
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Correspondence to Eun-Chel Cho or Junsin Yi.

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Khokhar, M.Q., Hussain, S.Q., Kim, S. et al. Review of Rear Emitter Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells. Trans. Electr. Electron. Mater. 21, 138–143 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42341-020-00172-5

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