Advanced Surface Passivation of Silicon Solar Cells

Competitive advantage

• World-class understanding of device-relevant fundamentals
• Capability to synthesise a wide range of surface passivation materials/stacks in-house
• Field-leading characterisation capabilities
• The first to develop a method for extracting the quantity of charge in dielectrics on doped silicon surfaces

Impact

• As the surfaces of a silicon solar cell typically contribute the highest efficiency loss, this optimisation improves their long-term performance.

Successful outcomes

• One of the main pioneers in the development of aluminium oxide which is now the de facto standard used in PERC solar cells
• Worked with various non-disclosed equipment suppliers and solar cell manufacturers to optimise surface passivation using their unique technologies
• Developed an intrinsically safer process for the deposition of aluminium oxide surface passivation films
• Currently unravelling the surface passivation fundamentals of complex three-dimensional structures such as those used for black silicon

Capabilities and facilities

• Access to and experience in state-of-the-art device simulation tools
• In-house laboratory and pilot-scale thin film fabrication capabilities for a wide range of surface passivation films

Our partners

• Leadmicro, a leading equipment manufacturer from China
• A number of non-disclosed solar cell manufacturers