Texturization of multicrystalline silicon wafers by chemical treatment using metallic catalyst

A new etching method for texturing multicrystalline Si wafers for solar cells was developed. In this method, we used platinum or silver as the catalyst, which was loaded on p-type multicrystalline Si wafers by means of the electroless plating technique. After deposition of the catalyst, the wafers were etched in HF solutions, to which in some cases chemical oxidants are added. The solar cell (4 cm/sup 2/) prepared using the textured wafers showed efficiency about 1% (absolute) higher than that of the cell made from the wafer treated by the conventional alkaline etching.