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Technology Transfer from the University of Oxford

Greater efficiency from silicon solar cells - Isis Project No 3447

University of Oxford researchers have developed a method for treating solar cell multi-crystalline silicon to increase its efficiency

BACKGROUND           

The solar cell market is currently growing at 40% or more per year with the dominant technology being based on multicrystalline silicon. Compared to single crystal material multicrystalline silicon is cheap to produce but it also contains more electrically active defects that serve to reduce the overall efficiency of the completed cells. The most important of these defects is widely acknowledged to be line defects (dislocations).

THE OXFORD INVENTION

Text Box: Optical micrograph showing typical defects in multicrystalline silicon Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a method for treating multi-crystalline silicon that counteracts the problem of the electrical activity of dislocations. The technique is:

  • low cost
  • low temperature
  • a simple process carried out on the device surface

Preliminary studies have shown that the electrical effects of dislocations can be modified to a depth of 30 microns or more, whilst still maintaining structural integrity of the silicon substrate.

PATENT STATUS

This work is the subject of patent application, and Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing the commercial opportunity that this represents. Please contact the Isis Project Manager to discuss this further.

KEYWORDS:

Solar cells, photo voltaics

Request Further Information: Project Number 3447 - Greater efficiency from silicon solar cells