Thin Czochralski silicon solar cells based on diamond wire sawing technology

► Surface states of diamond-wire sawn wafers have been characterized. ► Diamond-wire sawn wafers have a higher mechanical strength, beneficial for the preparation of thin wafers. ► Transmittance and reflectance of sunlight increase with a decrease of wafer thickness. ► Short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of solar cells decrease with a decrease of wafer thickness. ► An average conversion efficiency of 16.8% has been achieved for a 60 μm thick silicon solar cell.