Over 16% efficiency large area-multicrystalline silicon solar cell

Since 1989, Kyocera has been carrying out research into high efficiency solar cells using multicrystalline silicon substrates (15 cm/spl times/15 cm) made by the Sumitomo Sitix Co. Ltd. The bifacial Silicon nitride solar cell (BSNSC) fabrication process developed by Kyocera has been applied to this large area solar cell. A conversion efficiency of 16.4% (global AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm/sup 2/, 25/spl deg/C) for the 15 cm/spl times/15 cm multicrystalline silicon solar cell has been obtained by optimizing the front surface structure to reduce the reflective losses, and by improving the front electrode pattern using an evaporation method. >