10% efficient commercial-scale silicon-film solar cells

Commercial-scale 100 cm² Si-film solar cells with conversion efficiencies up to 10.9% have been fabricated. The major difference in performance between laboratory-scale (1 cm²) and commercial-scale (100 cm²) Si-film devices is the short-circuit currents observed. This difference is attributable to residual-stress-induced defects. Energy conversion efficiencies in excess of 12% are expected in the near term since the thermal profile in the pilot-scale equipment can be improved and will lead to reduction of stress in the Si-film wafer