Title :
Monolithically integrated silicon-film photovoltaic modules
Author :
Rand, J.A. ; Cotter, J.E. ; Ingram, A.E. ; Ruffins, T.R. ; Shreve, K.P. ; Hall, R.B. ; Barnett, A.M.
Author_Institution :
AstroPower Inc., Newark, DE, USA
Abstract :
Thin crystalline silicon layers on an insulating ceramic substrate permit the realization of a serially-interconnected monolithic array. In this paper, the authors present the device design and fabrication issues relating to such a monolithically integrated device, and the latest results are presented. A novel device process is presented that involves isolating and re-interconnecting silicon solar cell elements on an insulating ceramic substrate. Device efficiencies of 7.3% have been achieved, and are presently limited by high series resistance and chemical impurities
Keywords :
ceramics; design engineering; elemental semiconductors; monolithic integrated circuits; semiconductor device models; semiconductor device testing; semiconductor thin films; silicon; solar cells; substrates; 7.3 percent; Si; chemical impurities; crystalline semiconductor; device design; fabrication; insulating ceramic substrate; isolation; monolithically integrated device; photovoltaic modules; re-interconnection; serially-interconnected monolithic array; series resistance; solar cell; Ceramics; Chemical elements; Crystallization; Fabrication; Impurities; Insulation; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Silicon; Solar power generation;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1993., Conference Record of the Twenty Third IEEE
Conference_Location :
Louisville, KY
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-1220-1
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1993.347050
