Objective
Objectives
In recent years, thin film solar cells on the basis of crystalline silicon have found growing interest since they offer an ideal combination of useful properties of the silicon technology with the advantages of thin film techniques. They have the potential of good and stable efficiencies and on the other hand would guarantee low materials consumption. Large-area deposition techniques would be a potential alternative to the present technologies for mass production of self-supporting individual silicon solar cells using mostly ingot crystallization and wafering by mechanical sawing.
This project undertakes a substantial research and development effort in the field of crystalline silicon thin film solar cells, with the main emphasis on high temperature chemical vapour deposition techniques, keeping in mind (low-cost) manufacturability and it has three main objectives: - to show the technical applicability of high efficiency solar cell designs to thin films;
- to demonstrate the potential of low-cost manufacturing technologies; - to demonstrate the potential of low-cost substrates.
Technical Approach
Following a compromise strategy between high risk options and well-known technologies, three different tasks will cover the different aspects of the approach:
Task 1 focuses on principal questions related to the crystalline silicon thin film solar cells, including the applicability of high efficiency designs to thin films, and the problems related to optical and electrical confinement.
Task 2 addresses the main economic questions related to the thin film approach, namely the availability of low-cost large-area deposition techniques and the development of relatively simple techniques for the different steps in cell technology.
Task 3 is related to the question whether non-silicon materials like ceramics are a solution for the substrate problem for high temperature silicon deposition, and what the consequences are for the module technique.
Expected Achievements and Exploitation
The project addresses a number of very important questions in the field of the crystalline silicon thin film cell. Although the basic understanding of the structure is common knowledge, there are a number of crucial problems associated with the practical realization of this type of thin film structure. Results are expected on all essential details:
- the modelling of the ultimate device structure
- the optimization of the critical optical and electrical confinement - the elaboration of high quality but cost-effective deposition techniques for Si
- the solution of the low-cost substrate problem.
The work plan also includes a thorough evaluation of the cost reduction potential for the manufacture of silicon thin films, the single most crucial step in the manufacturing process.
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.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- engineering and technology materials engineering ceramics
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies
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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.
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.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
3001 Heverlee
Belgium
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.