High-voltage monocrystalline Si photovoltaic minimodules based on poly-Si/SiOx passivating contacts for high-power laser power conversion

By using photovoltaic cells under high-intensity laser illumination, much higher photoconversion efficiencies are obtained than under the solar spectrum. We demonstrate a monocrystalline Si based minimodule to convert laser light into electricity using edge-illuminated Si “minicells” based on polysilicon on silicon oxide passivating contacts. Ten fully metallized devices were stacked in series and illuminated from the edge, creating a high-voltage, low-current minimodule that mitigates resistive and Auger-Meitner losses. The minimodule shows a high open-circuit voltage of >5 V when tested under 1-Sun illumination and >7 V at higher illumination intensities when tested with a flash simulator. The fill factor in these minimodules is limited by shunting at low illuminations but reaches a maximum of ∼78% for higher illumination intensities >40 Suns (current density >1200 mA/cm2), indicating that the minimodules are not limited by series resistance up to 40 Suns. Under 1000 nm monochromatic light, we measure efficiencies >40% at > 40 Suns equivalent illumination, showing the potential of passivated contact Si cells for laser power conversion.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Fraunhofer ISE

Matthew B. Hartenstein and Ryan M. France and William Nemeth and San Theingi and Matthew Page and Sumit Agarwal and David L. Young and Paul Stradins

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

2023

6

10.1016/J.SOLMAT.2023.112286

0927-0248

112286

North-Holland

255