Rear contact pattern optimization based on 3D simulations for IBC solar cells with point-like doped contacts

In this work 3D simulations are used to study the impact of technological parameters on device performance of c-Si interdigitated back-contacted IBC solar cells with point-like doped contacts. In these cells, the highly-doped regions are defined in a point-like structure instead of the more classical arrangement of fully doped fingers. Numerical simulations allow us to optimize rear contact geometry, i.e. optimum pitch between contacts, depending on the substrate resistivity and the passivation quality of base contacts. Results show a trade-off between recombination and base resistive losses demonstrating limit efficiencies over 27% for a perfectly passivated structure on p- and n-type substrates. More realistic devices where state-of-the-art surface passivation is considered reach efficiencies beyond 22% on 2 +/- 1 Omega cm substrates with optimum pitch values of 200 +/- 50 Omega m. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.