Rear contact solar cells, also known as back contact solar cells, are a type of photovoltaic cell that has the electrical contacts on the rear side of the cell, rather than on the front side as is.
Do back contact solar cells represent the evolution of Si PV technology?
Back contact (BC) solar cells, realised through various contact formation technologies, are expected to represent the ultimate evolution of Si PV technology in terms of both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In this study, the evolution of Si solar cell structures is reviewed. Challenges for BC solar cell manufacturing are discussed.
What are back-contact solar cells?
This review provides a comprehensive overview of back-contact (BC) solar cells, commencing with the historical context of the inception of the back-contact silicon (BC-Si) solar cells and its progression into various designs such as metallization wrap through, emitter wrap through, and interdigitated configurations.
What is an interdigitated back contact solar cell?
The interdigitated back contact solar cell: a silicon solar cell for use in concentrated sunlight. IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices April 1977; (4): 337–342. 15. Nagashima T, Okumura K, Murata K, Yamaguchi M. A germanium back-contact type cell for thermophotovoltaic applications.
Backside-contact silicon solar cells with improved efficiency for the '96 world solar challenge. Proceedings of the 14th EPVSC, Barcelona, 1997; 96–99. 144. Mulligan WP, Rose DH, Cudzinovic MJ, De Ceuster DM, McIntosh KR, Smith DD, Swanson RM. Manufacture of solar cells with 21% efficiency.
Are poly-Si based passivating contacts a good option for solar cells?
However, solar cells incorporating poly-Si based passivating contacts both on front and rear of a solar cells could have the potential to achieve efficiencies exceeding 26% [15, 16]. There has been increased interest in the solar cells with passivated contacts on both front and rear side.
Can a back-junction solar cell be used as a bottom cell?
Furthermore, as there is no need to conduct the current along the emitter as with front-contacted cells, there is no trade-off between series resistance and grid shading and the rear junction can be optimised in terms of the lowest saturation current only.16 Another possible use for back-junction cells is as the bottom cell for tandem solar cells.