• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.120-125
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• 2002

Si-wafers for solar cells were cast in a size of $50{\times}46{\times}0.5{\textrm}{mm}^3$ by vacuum casting method. The graphite mold coated by BN powder, which was to prevent the reaction of carbon with the molten silicon, was used. Without coating, the wetting and reaction of Si melt to graphite mold was very severe. In the case of BN coating, SiC was formed in the shape of tiny islands at the surface of Si wafer by the reaction between Si-melt and carbon of the graphite mold on the high temperature. The grain size was about 1 mm. The efficiency of Si solar cell was lower than that of Si solar cell fabricated on commercial single and poly crystalline Si wafer. The reason of low efficiency was discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.553-556
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• 1999

This paper presents a proper condition to achieve above 19 % conversion efficiency using PC1D simulator. Cast poly-Si wafers with resistivity of 1 $\Omega$-cm and thickness of 250 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ were used as a starting material. Various efficiency influencing parameters such as rear surface recombination velocity and minority carrier diffusion length in the base region, front surface recombination velocity, junction depth and doping concentration in the Emitter layer, BSF thickness and doping concentration were investigated. Optimized cell parameters were given as rear surface recombination of 1000 cm/s, minority carrier diffusion length in the base region 200 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, front surface recombination velocity 100 cnt/s, sheet resistivity of emitter layer 100 $\Omega$/$\square$, BSF thickness 5 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, doping concentration 5$\times$10$^{19}$ cm$^3$ . Among the investigated variables, we learn that a diffusion length of base layer acts as a key factor to achieve conversion efficiency higher than 19 %. Further details of simulation parameters and their effects to cell characteristics are discussed in this paper.