Where Photovoltaics Meets Microelectronics

The PV industry has to systematically reduce its manufacturing cost in order to reach grid parity for the main markets in the coming decade. Crystalline Si solar cells are dominating presently the PV-market and this dominance is expected to continue for at least the next decade. Industrial production at a cost of 1$/Wp for crystalline Si solar cells has been announced for 2011. Increasing cell efficiencies is a prominent pathway in view of the strong leverage on costs of materials in the module fabrication sequence. In order to further reduce $/Wp costs, eventually down to the 0.5 $/Wp level, it is clear that the dominant position of crystalline Si solar cells on the market was partially achieved thanks to the existing knowledge and equipment base within the context of micro(nano)-electronics, although the cost drivers in both cases are principally different: cost/functionality reduction for microelectronics versus cost/Wp for photovoltaics. In order to achieve the ambitious goals stated higher, it makes sense to have a closer look how the process and analysis toolbox available in the microelectronics area can be used at the benefit of the further development of crystalline Si-based photovoltaic devices. The use of a nanotechnology toolbox is however not limited to crystalline Si solar cells. Also fields like concentrator PV (CPV) might take profit from developments in the domain of photonics enabled by the technological capabilities developed within micro(nano)electronics. The present paper gives an overview of a number of approaches being followed in IMEC to use the broad nanotechnology toolbox of microelectronics and microsystems for crystalline Si solar cells.