Passivation-Induced Cavity Defects in Laser-Doped Selective Emitter Si Solar Cells—Formation Model and Recombination Analysis

Laser-induced selective Si doping and simultaneous ablation of a dielectric passivation layer is a promising technology for the creation of efficient and cost-effective solar cells. In this paper, the electrical quality of emitters produced with a 532-nm continuous-wave laser will be discussed using elaborate analysis of quasi-steady-state photoconductance (QSSPC) measurements. It will be shown that these emitters cause good charge carrier shielding, which leads to emitter saturation current densities as low as 240 fA/cm² for unpassivated surfaces. If an SiN_x layer is present during laser doping, the emitter recombination increases by a factor of three. This detrimental effect is put down to the formation of microcavities within the recrystallized Si. A model of the ablation mechanism and cavity formation for long laser pulses is proposed, with the experimental data in this study serving as a limiting case for long irradiation lengths.