Sorbitol admixture to passivation layer increases HJT conversion efficiency

The race to the theoretical maximum conversion efficiency continues and with new lab results in, it appears a big leap forward may have been achieved over at MIT and Princeton.

Researchers from the Massachutes Institute of Technology and Princeton have examined the impact of a sorbitol admixture to hole-conduction polymer PEDOT:PSS [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)] on polymer/crystalline silicon heterojunction (HJT) solar cells.

In so doing, the team deposited a PEDOT:PSS layer as a hole-collecting contact to the rear of a cell while the front was treated ‘conventionally,’ through phosphorous diffusion.

According to the researchers, the admixture of the infrared-transparent sorbitol improved the short-circuit density of the cell due to a reduction in infrared parasitic absorption. The researchers also observed the passivation quality of PEDOT:PSS was improved, together with the open-circuit voltage.

“The series resistance is not influenced by the admixture of sorbitol up to 4.0 wt.% sorbitol admixture in the PEDOT:PSS dispersion, but shows a pronounced increase for larger sorbitol contents,” the team wrote. The researchers concluded optimal sorbitol content sits at 4.0 wt%, allowing for 20.4% conversion efficiency at one-sun reference irradiation. That marked a 1.1% increase on reference cells not treated with sorbitol.

Rear passivation optimal

Sorbitol is reportedly already used as a conductive additive in PEDOT:PSS but its effects had not been studied at a device level before. The researchers found differences depending on whether the sorbitol was applied to the front or the rear of the cell, and concluded rear passivation provided the best results.

The scientists assessed passivation quality by fabricating 300µm thick (100)-oriented p-type float-zone silicon (FZ-Si) wafers with a resistivity of 200 Ωcm. One side of the wafer was then treated using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The improved short circuit current density and open circuit voltage improve crystalline HJT cells on multiple levels when applied through PEDOT:PSS dispersion.

With a sorbitol concentration of 4.0 wt.% in the precursor dispersion, the team measured a median J_0.PEDOT value of 64 fA/cm². Compared to a sorbitol concentration of 7.7 wt.%, with a median J_0:PEDOT of only 38 fA/cm² , the team concluded the recombination at the PEDOT:PSS/c-Si interface was more than halved by adding 7.7 wt.% of sorbitol to the precursor solution. At even higher sorbitol concentrations of 11 wt.% and 14 wt.%, the J_0.PEDOT value rose significantly.

The study saw 42 cells made with the new technology. Throughout the findings, the researchers stated they believe they can further improve the cell by changing more parameters, such as by using better bulk material.

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