Reducing the thickness of silicon wafers in solar cells below 40 μm typically results in decreased performance. Using black silicon for the wafer, however, which has a textured surface structure, can improve the wafer’s absorption capabilities. Researchers in Spain and Finland demonstrated this improvement by using ultrathin black silicon wafers to create interdigitated back-contact solar cells.
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Record solar cell performance, prehistoric amber informs glass theory, and other materials stories that may be of interest for June 16, 2015.
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Metals that walk on water, energy-generating rubber, space-age ceramics, and other materials stories that may be of interest for May 26, 2015.
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