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Surface and bulk passivation of multicrystalline silicon solar cells by ...

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11<br />

examples <strong>of</strong> third generation technologies: multijunction photovoltaic <strong>cells</strong>, quantumwell<br />

or other nano-structure sοlαr <strong>cells</strong>, dye-sensitized solαr <strong>cells</strong>, organic/polymer<br />

sοlαr <strong>cells</strong>, concentration systems <strong>and</strong> excess thermal generation approaches to<br />

enhance voltages or carrier collection [24].<br />

1.3.2 Silicon Solar Cells<br />

The work presented in this dissertation focuses on problems relating to methods to<br />

improve efficiencies <strong>of</strong> crystalline <strong>silicon</strong> <strong>solar</strong> <strong>cells</strong>. Silicon is not only the material<br />

used in the earliest successful PV devices, but continues to remain as the most widely<br />

used PV material. Over 95% <strong>of</strong> all the <strong>solar</strong> <strong>cells</strong> produced worldwide are composed<br />

<strong>of</strong> Si. As the second most abundant element in the earth's crust, <strong>silicon</strong> has the<br />

advantage <strong>of</strong> being available in sufficient quantities.<br />

A roadmap <strong>of</strong> <strong>solar</strong> cell production <strong>and</strong> capacity is shown in Figure 1.5 [28].<br />

Figure 1.5 Solar cell production <strong>and</strong> capacity [28].<br />

The statistics <strong>and</strong> predictions indicate that crystalline <strong>silicon</strong> <strong>solar</strong> <strong>cells</strong> were,<br />

are <strong>and</strong> will be the dominant influence in the PV industry.

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