Project description
Better passivating contacts for higher-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells
Passivating contacts consisting of a doped polycrystalline silicon layer on top of a thin layer of silicon oxide are promising for bridging the gap between the theoretical and real efficiencies of solar cells based on crystalline silicon. However, their development has so far been based on trial-and-error approaches, thereby limiting understanding of their underlying working principle. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SLICE project will apply lifetime spectroscopy to identify electrically active defects that limit the lifetime of charge carriers at the interface between polycrystalline silicon contacts and crystalline silicon. The characterisation of interfacial defects should facilitate the fabrication of better passivating polycrystalline silicon contacts and ultimately lead to higher-efficiency solar cells.
Objective
In the context of high-efficiency solar cells based on crystalline silicon (c-Si), the integration of passivating contacts between the metal electrodes and the c-Si substrate has been identified as the next step to further improve the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. Passivating contacts consisting in a highly-doped poly-crystalline silicon (poly-Si) layer on top of a thin layer of silicon oxide (SiOx) offer the most promising approach to bridge the gap between device efficiencies in R&D and those in production. However, their development has mainly proceeded through “trial and error” so far, resulting in a limited understanding of their underlying working principle. More specifically, the surface passivation provided by poly-Si contacts is a combination of different mechanisms, among which the limiting one is still unclear due to: i) the interplay between these different mechanisms and ii) the challenge of characterizing thin-film stacks with features to the nanometric scale. Moreover, p-type poly-Si contacts, which are of prime interest since they could provide an alternative to the conventional contact at the rear side of mainstream p-type c-Si solar cells, have so far demonstrated lower passivation properties than their n-type counterparts, the fundamental reason for this difference remaining unclear. Within the SLICE project, a dedicated methodology based on lifetime spectroscopy scpecially adapted to the c-Si surface will be applied to identify electrically active defects limiting the lifetime of charge carriers at the interface between poly-Si contacts and the c-Si. The investigation of different passivating thin-film stacks of iterative complexity will enable to relate their properties to their fabrication process. The insights gained from this original characterization of interfacial defects will support the fabrication of better passivating poly-Si contacts and ultimately solar cells with higher efficiency.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.