• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.233-240
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• 2023

p-type Tunnel Oxide Passivating Contacts (TOPCon) solar cell is fabricated with a poly-Si/SiO_x structure. It simultaneously achieves surface passivation and enhances the carriers' selective collection, which is a promising technology for conventional solar cells. The quality of passivation is depended on the quality of the tunnel oxide layer at the interface with the c-Si wafer, which is affected by the bond of SiO formed during the subsequent annealing process. The highest cell efficiency reported to date for the laboratory scale has increased to 26.1%, fabricated by the Institute for Solar Energy Research. The cells used a p-type float zone silicon with an interdigitated back contact (IBC) structure that fabricates poly-Si and SiO_x layer achieves the highest implied open-circuit voltage (iV_oc) is 750 mV, and the highest level of edge passivation is 40%. This review presents an overview of p-type TOPCon technologies, including the ultra-thin silicon oxide layer (SiO_x) and poly-silicon layer (poly-Si), as well as the advancement of the SiO_x and poly-Si layers. Subsequently, the limitations of improving efficiency are discussed in detail. Consequently, it is expected to provide a basis for the simplification of industrial mass production.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2012년도 제43회 하계 정기 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.86-86
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• 2012

The new approaches for silicon solar cell of new concept have been actively conducted. Especially, solar cells with wire array structured radial p-n junctions has attracted considerable attention due to the unique advantages of orthogonalizing the direction of light absorption and charge separation while allowing for improved light scattering and trapping. One-dimenstional semiconductor nano/micro structures should be fabricated for radial p-n junction solar cell. Most of silicon wire and/or pillar arrays have been fabricated by vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) growth because of its simple and cheap process. In the case of the VLS method has some weak points, that is, the incorporation of heavy metal catalysts into the growing silicon wire, the high temperature procedure. We have tried new approaches; one is electrochemical etching, the other is noble metal catalytic etching method to overcome those problems. In this talk, the silicon pillar formation will be characterized by investigating the parameters of the electrochemical etching process such as HF concentration ratio of electrolyte, current density, back contact material, temperature of the solution, and large pre-pattern size and pitch. In the noble metal catalytic etching processes, the effect of solution composition and thickness of metal catalyst on the etching rate and morphologies of silicon was investigated. Finally, radial p-n junction wire arrays were fabricated by spin on doping (phosphor), starting from chemical etched p-Si wire arrays. In/Ga eutectic metal was used for contact metal. The energy conversion efficiency of radial p-n junction solar cell is discussed.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.95-100
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• 2022

Solar cell is a device that converts photon energy into electrical energy. Therefore, absorption of solar spectrum light is one of the most important characteristics to design the solar cell structures. Various methods have emerged to reduce optical losses, such as textured surfaces, back contact solar cells, anti-reflection layers. Here, the anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer is typically utilized whose refractive index value is between air (~1) and silicon (~4) such as SiN_x layer (~1.9). This research is to print a material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to form a double anti-reflection layer. Light with wavelength in the range of 0.3 to 1.2 micrometers does not share a wavelength with solar cells. It is confirmed that the refractive index of PDMS (~1.4) is an ARC layer which decreases the reflectance of light absorption region on typical p-type solar cells with SiN_x layer surface. Optimized PDMS printing with analyzing optical property for cell structure can be the effective way against outer effects by encapsulation.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2008년도 추계학술대회 논문집 Vol.21
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• pp.430-430
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• 2008

Using multi plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system (Multi-PECVD), p-a-Si:H deposition layer as a $p^+$ region which was annealed by laser (Q-switched fiber laser, $\lambda$ = 1064 nm) on an n-type single crystalline Si (100) plane circle wafer was prepared as new doping method for single crystalline interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells. As lots of earlier studies implemented, most cases dealt with the excimer (excited dimer) laserannealing or crystallization of boron with the ultraviolet wavelength range and $10^{-9}$ sec pulse duration. In this study, the Q-switched fiber laser which has higher power, longer wavelength of infrared range ($\lambda$ = 1064 nm) and longer pulse duration of $10^{-8}$ sec than excimer laser was introduced for uniformly deposited p-a-Si:H layer to be annealed and to make sheet resistance expectable as an important process for IBC solar cell $p^+$ layer on a polished n-type Si circle wafer. A $525{\mu}m$ thick n-type Si semiconductor circle wafer of (100) plane which was dipped in a buffered hydrofluoric acid solution for 30 seconds was mounted on the Multi-PECVD system for p-a-Si:H deposition layer with the ratio of $SiH_4:H_2:B_2H_6$ = 30:120:30, at $200^{\circ}C$, 50 W power, 0.2 Torr pressure for 20 minutes. 15 mm $\times$ 15 mm size laser cut samples were annealed by fiber laser with different sets of power levels and frequencies. By comparing the results of lifetime measurement and sheet resistance relation, the laser condition set of 50 mm/s of mark speed, 160 kHz of period, 21 % of power level with continuous wave mode of scanner lens showed the features of small difference of lifetime and lowering sheet resistance than before the fiber laser treatment with not much surface damages. Diode level device was made to confirm these experimental results by measuring C-V, I-V characteristics. Uniform and expectable boron doped layer can play an important role to predict the efficiency during the fabricating process of IBC solar cells.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.54-58
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• 2016

Laser-doped selective emitter process requires dopant source deposition, spin-on-glass, and is able to form selective emitter through SiNx layer by laser irradiation on desired locations. However, after laser doping process, the remaining dopant layer needs to be washed out. Laser-induced melting of pre-deposited impurity doping is a precise selective doping method minimizing addition of process steps. In this study, we introduce a novel scheme for fabricating highly efficient selective emitter solar cell by laser doping. During this process, laser induced damage induces front contact destabilization due to the hindrance of silver nucleation even though laser doping has a potential of commercialization with simple process concept. When the laser induced damage is effectively removed using solution etch back process, the disadvantage of laser doping was effectively removed. The devices fabricated using laser doping scheme power conversion efficiency was significantly improved about 1% abs. after removal the laser damages.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.264-268
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• 2011

The Molybedenium thin film is generally used on back contact material of CIGS solar cell due to low electrical resistivity and stable thermal expansion coefficient. The Mo thin films deposited on si wafer by the magnetron sputtering method. The research focused on the variation of electrical resistivity of films which deposited with various working pressure at the target power of 2.0 kW(8.4 W/). The lowest resistivity of Mo thin film showed $9.0{\mu}O$-cm at pressure of 1.5 mTorr. However, working pressure increasing up to 50 mTorr, resistivities were highly increased. The results showed that the conductivity of Mo films depended on growing structures and defects in deposition process. Surface morphology, porosity, grain size, oxidation, and bonding structures were analysed by SEM, AFM, spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), XRD, and XPS.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2009년도 하계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.456-456
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• 2009

Boron doping on an n-type Si wafer is requisite process for IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) solar cells. Fiber laser annealing is one of boron doping methods. For the boron doping, uniformly coated or deposited film is highly required. Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method provides a uniform dopant film or layer which can facilitate doping. Because amorphous silicon layer absorption range for the wavelength of fiber laser does not match well for the direct annealing. In this study, to enhance thermal affection on the existing p-a-Si:H layer, a ${\mu}c$-Si:H intrinsic layer was deposited on the p-a-Si:H layer additionally by PECVD. To improve heat transfer rate to the amorphous silicon layer, and as heating both sides and protecting boron eliminating from the amorphous silicon layer. For p-a-Si:H layer with the ratio of $SiH_4$ : $B_2H_6$ : $H_2$ = 30 : 30 : 120, at $200^{\circ}C$, 50 W, 0.2 Torr for 30 minutes, and for ${\mu}c$-Si:H intrinsic layer, $SiH_4$ : $H_2$ = 10 : 300, at $200^{\circ}C$, 30 W, 0.5 Torr for 60 minutes, 2 cm $\times$ 2 cm size wafers were used. In consequence of comparing the results of lifetime measurement and sheet resistance relation, the laser condition set of 20 ~ 27 % of power, 150 ~ 160 kHz, 20 ~ 50 mm/s of marking speed, and $10\;{\sim}\;50 {\mu}m$ spacing with continuous wave mode of scanner lens showed the correlation between lifetime and sheet resistance as $100\;{\Omega}/sq$ and $11.8\;{\mu}s$ vs. $17\;{\Omega}/sq$ and $8.2\;{\mu}s$. Comparing to the singly deposited p-a-Si:H layer case, the additional ${\mu}c$-Si:H layer for doping resulted in no trade-offs, but showed slight improvement of both lifetime and sheet resistance, however sheet resistance might be confined by the additional intrinsic layer. This might come from the ineffective crystallization of amorphous silicon layer. For the additional layer case, lifetime and sheet resistance were measured as $84.8\;{\Omega}/sq$ and $11.09\;{\mu}s$ vs. $79.8\;{\Omega}/sq$ and $11.93\;{\mu}s$. The co-existence of $n^+$layeronthesamesurfaceandeliminating the laser damage should be taken into account for an IBC solar cell structure. Heavily doped uniform boron layer by fiber laser brings not only basic and essential conditions for the beginning step of IBC solar cell fabrication processes, but also the controllable doping concentration and depth that can be established according to the deposition conditions of layers.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.422-426
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• 2016

With the increase in installed solar energy capacity, comparison and analysis of the physical property values of solar cells are becoming increasingly important for production. Therefore, research on determining the physical characteristic values of solar cells is being actively pursued. In this study, a diode equation, which is commonly used to describe the I-V behavior and determine the electrical characteristic values of solar cells, was applied. Using this method, it is possible to determine the diode ideality factor (n) and series resistance ($R_s$) based on light I-V measurements. Thus, using a commercial screen-printed solar cell and an interdigitated back-contact solar cell, we determined the ideality factor (n) and series resistance ($R_s$) with a modified diode equation method for the light I-V curves. We also used the sun-shade method to determine the ideality factor (n) and series resistance ($R_s$) of the samples. The values determined using the two methods were similar. However, given the error in the sun-shade method, the diode equation is considered more useful than the sun-shade method for analyzing the electrical characteristics because it determines the ideality factor (n) and series resistance ($R_s$) based on the light I-V curves.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2011년도 춘계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.121.1-121.1
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• 2011

현재 상용화되고 있는 단결정 실리콘 태양전지는 알루미늄 페이스트를 이용하여 후면의 전 영역에 전계를 형성한다. 최근에는 고효율을 얻기 위하여 후면에 패시베이션 효과와 장파장에 대한 반사도를 증가 시키는 SiNx막을 증착 후, 국부적으로 전계를 형성하는 국부 후면 전극(Local back surface field)기술이 연구되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 전면만 텍스쳐 된 단결정 실리콘 웨이퍼를 이용하였다. Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition(PECVD)를 이용하여 전,후면에 SiNx를 증착 하였고 후면의 국부적인 전극 패턴 형성을 위하여 SiNx 식각용 페이스트를 사용한 스크린 프린팅 기술을 이용하였다. 스크린 프린팅을 이용하여 패턴이 형성된 후면에 알루미늄을 인쇄 한 후 Rapid Thermal Process(RTP)를 이용하여 소성 공정 조건을 변화시켰다. 소성 조건 동안 형성되는 후면 전계층은 peak 온도와 승온속도, 냉각 속도에 따라 형상이나 특성이 변화하기 때문에 소성 조건을 변화시키며 국부적 후면 전계 형성의 최적화에 관한 연구를 수행하였다. 패이스트를 이용하여 SiNx를 식각 후 광학 현미경(Optical Microscopy)을 사용하여 SiNx의 식각 유무를 살펴보았고, RTP로 형성된 국부 전계층의 형성 두께, 주변 부분의 형상을 살피기 위해 도핑 영역을 혼합수용액으로 식각하여 주사 전자 현미경(SEM)을 이용하여 관찰 하였다. 또한 후면의 특성을 살펴보기 위해 분광 광도계(UV/VIS/NIR Spectrophotometer)를 사용하여 후면 SiNx층의 유무에 따른 반사도를 비교, 측정 하였다.

• 태양에너지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.3-11
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• 1997

다결정 실리콘에서 결정입계는 광생성된 반송자들의 재결합 중심으로 작용할 뿐 아니라 전위장벽으로 작용하여 태양전지의 변환효율을 감소시킨다. 결정입계의 영향을 줄이기 위해 열처리, 결정입계에 대한 선택적 식각, 결정입계로 함몰전극을 형성하는 방법, 다양한 전극 구조, 초박막 금속 형성 후 전극형성 등 여러가지 요소들을 조사하였다. 질소 분위기에서 $900^{\circ}C$ 전열처리, $POCl_3$ 확산을 통한 게터링, 후면전계 형성을 위한 Al 처리로 다결정 실리콘의 결함밀도를 감소시켰다. 결정입계에서의 반송자 손실을 감소시키기 위한 기판 처리로 Schimmel 식각액을 사용하였다. 이는 texturing 효과와 함께 결정입계를 선택적으로 $10{\mu}m$ 깊이로 식각하였다. 결점입계를 우선적으로 식각한 후면으로 Al을 확산하여 후면에서의 재결합 손실을 감소시켰다. 전극 핑거(grid finger) 간격이 0.4mm인 세밀한 전극 구조에 결정입계로 $0.4{\mu}m$ 깊이로 함몰전극을 추가로 형성하여 태양전지의 단락 전류 밀도가 개선되었다. 80% 이상의 광투과율을 보인 20nm 두께의 크롬 박막 형성으로 직렬 저항을 감소시켰다. 본 논문은 저가의 고효율, 지상 전력용 태양진지를 위해 결정입계에 대한 연구를 하였다.