Comparison of the characteristics of solar cells fabricated from multicrystalline silicon with those fabricated from silicon obtained by the monolike technology

Abstract

In order to raise the efficiency of solar cells and reduce the cost of their production, a new process for obtaining silicon ingots based on the so-called moonlike technology is developed. New technologies, which use “solar-grade” silicon, make it possible to fabricate solar cells at a lower cost with a higher efficiency of solar-energy conversion. It is exactly for this reason that the “monolike” process was tested and optimized by us for Kazakhstan solar-grade silicon. The aim of this study is a comparison of the characteristics of solar cells fabricated from “monolike” silicon with those of solar cells obtained on the basis of multicrystalline silicon grown by oriented crystallization. For our study, ingots of multicrystalline silicon are grown on an industrial scale and through the use of Kazakhstan-sourced silicon; solar cells are fabricated and the characteristics of the obtained silicon ingots and solar cells are studied.