Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
Description of field of research:
PERC-cells dominate commercial photovoltaic production with the main challenger, commonly known as TOPCon, which offers higher cell performance but at higher cost. Our group works on development of a low-cost and high-efficiency silicon cell technology, Rear-Junction p-type PERC/TOPCon Hybrid Solar Cells (dubbed RJ-PERP). The hybrid is essentially a bifacial p-type PERC cell "flipped-over", with the diffused n-type selective-emitter, now on the rear, upgraded to the n-type "polysilicon-on-oxide" contact used on n-type TOPCon rear-surfaces. By capturing the best features of both technologies, this approach provides higher performance than either, while avoiding key contributors to higher TOPCon costs, specifically n-type wafers, Ag for both polarity contacts, boron diffusion(s) and top-junction shunting by polysilicon wrap-around.
This project involves close collaboration with multiple PV manufacturers, that these industry partners will provide samples of devices with two"intermediate structures". One is a rear-junction PERC structure based on established bifacial PERC sequences, where the wafer is flipped-over for junction diffusion, dielectric deposition and contact screening steps; the second is a p-type RJ-TOPCon device, using Ga-doped wafers rather than P-doped in current production lines. The student will work on characterising the performance of both "intermediate structures", and collaborating with industry partners to further improve the design.
School
Research areas
Photovoltaics | Characterization | High-efficiency | Low-cost
- Research environment
- Expected outcomes
- Our team
- References
The student will work in a very supportive and collaborative environment, that he/she will be supervised by internationally recognized UNSW researchers in the field. Our group provides an open and friendly environment where people feel comfortable to share their opinion and show openness to the viewpoints of others.
The student will gain understanding of present capabilities of solar cell manufacturing and learn necessary processing and characterisation techniques for the state-of-the-art solar cell technologies.
