Systematic review of n-type silicon solar cells: structures and efficiencies

The PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) solar cells have been dominating the competitive photovoltaic market due to their manufacturing process being compatible with the industrial lines that were being used and to produce high efficiency devices. Currently, p-type silicon is the most used by the solar cell industry, but n-type silicon should gain market in the coming years along with the use of thinner wafers. This work is a systematic review that aims to find the main recent studies in the field of n-type solar cells, like PERC, PERT (Passivated Emitter-Rear Totally Diffused), and TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact), with emphasis on the selective contacts and selective emitters and the processes to obtain them, as well as the analysis of solar cells of reduced thickness in relation to the current industrial standard. (author)