Bifacial silicon solar cells with 21·3% front efficiency and 19·8% rear efficiency

We introduced a triode structure with p–n junctions on both sides into single-crystalline bifacial silicon solar cells in order to improve solar cell performance. These fabricated bifacial silicon solar cells have an energy conversion efficiency of 21·3% under front 1 sun illumination (the standard 1 kW/m2 AM 1·5 global spectrum at 25°C) and 19·8% under rear 1 sun illumination tested at the Japan Quality Assurance Organization. The total of the front and rear conversion efficiencies is the highest ever reported for bifacial silicon solar cells. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.