INVESTIGATION OF CO-ETCHING PROCESS OF BORON-RICH AND PHOSPHORUS-RICH LAYERS FOR CRYSTALLINE SILICON SOLAR CELLS

Li Wenhao, Wang Huipeng, He Ren, Huang Zhiping, Wei Deyuan, Xu Ying

Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (8) : 217-224.

PDF(1440 KB)
Welcome to visit Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, Today is
PDF(1440 KB)
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (8) : 217-224. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0626

INVESTIGATION OF CO-ETCHING PROCESS OF BORON-RICH AND PHOSPHORUS-RICH LAYERS FOR CRYSTALLINE SILICON SOLAR CELLS

  • Li Wenhao1, Wang Huipeng1, He Ren1, Huang Zhiping2, Wei Deyuan3, Xu Ying1
Author information +
History +

Abstract

The wet etching method with a mixed solution of nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid and deionized water is employed for the first time to achieve the co-etching of the boron-and phosphorus-rich layers on the 165 mm×165 mm substrate of crystalline silicon solar cell after thermal diffusion. The optimal co-etching conditions are determined as a mixed acid volume ratio of HF∶HNO3∶H2O=1∶5∶20 and the etching time of 5 min. The co-etching also simultaneously regulates the sheet resistance of the front emitter and the back collector junctions, reduces the surface defect density, and improves the performance of crystalline silicon solar cells.

Key words

solar cells / diffusion / wet etching / boron-rich layer / phosphorus-rich layer

Cite this article

Download Citations
Li Wenhao, Wang Huipeng, He Ren, Huang Zhiping, Wei Deyuan, Xu Ying. INVESTIGATION OF CO-ETCHING PROCESS OF BORON-RICH AND PHOSPHORUS-RICH LAYERS FOR CRYSTALLINE SILICON SOLAR CELLS[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(8): 217-224 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0626

References

[1] 张云龙, 陈新亮, 周忠信, 等. 晶体硅太阳电池研究进展[J]. 太阳能学报, 2021, 42(10): 49-60.
Zhang Y L, Chen X L, Zhou Z X, et al.Research progress of crystalline silicon solar cells[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2021, 42(10): 49-60.
[2] Das A, Ryu K, Rohatgi A.20% Efficient screen-printed n-type solar cells using a spin-on source and thermal oxide/silicon nitride passivation[C]//2011 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Seattle, WA, USA, 2011: 3339.
[3] Kessler M A, Ohrdes T, Wolpensinger B, et al.Charge carrier lifetime degradation in Cz silicon through the formation of a boron-rich layer during BBr3 diffusion processes[J]. Semiconductor Science and Technology, 2010, 25(5): 055001.
[4] 余双龙, 魏青竹, 李玉芳, 等. n型太阳电池硼扩散制备正面发射极工艺研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2020, 41(3): 276-281.
Yu S L, Wei Q Z, Li Y F, et al.Study on formation of front emitter by boron diffusion for n-type solar cells[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2020, 41(3): 276-281.
[5] Huang Y X, Jiang L Q, Yan L, et al.A novel phosphorus diffusion process for front-side P-N junction fabrication in PERC solar cells[J]. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 2024, 180: 108552.
[6] Müller R, Schrof J, Reichel C, et al.Back-junction back-contact n-type silicon solar cell with diffused boron emitter locally blocked by implanted phosphorus[J]. Applied Physics Letters, 2014, 105(10): 103503.
[7] Dubois S, Turmagambetov T, Garandet J P, et al.Influence of the solar cells metallization firing treatment on carrier recombination and trapping in copper contaminated multicrystalline silicon: new insights into the role of the phosphorus-rich layers[J]. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2016, 157: 558-564.
[8] Pignatel G U, Queirolo G.Further insight on boron diffusion in silicon obtained with Auger electron spectroscopy[J]. Thin Solid Films, 1980, 67(2): 233-238.
[9] Brown D M, Kennicott P R.Glass source diffusion in Si and SiO2[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1971, 118(2): 293.
[10] Arai E, Nakamura H, Terunuma Y.Interface reactions of B2O3-Si system and boron diffusion into silicon[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1973, 120(7): 980.
[11] Cousins P J, Cotter J E.Misfit dislocations generated during non-ideal boron and phosphorus diffusion and their effect on high-efficiency silicon solar cells[C]//Conference Record of the Thirty-first IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA, 2005: 1047-1050.
[12] Cousins P J, Cotter J E.The influence of diffusion-induced dislocations on high efficiency silicon solar cells[J]. IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 2006, 53(3): 457-464.
[13] Kim C, Park S, Do Kim Y, et al.Properties of boron-rich layer formed by boron diffusion in n-type silicon[J]. Thin Solid Films, 2014, 564: 253-257.
[14] Huang Z P, Liao D J, Li W H, et al.A novel and optimal simulation approach for non-uniform boron emitter of crystalline silicon solar cells[J]. Silicon, 2025, 17(9): 2121-2130.
[15] Singha B, Solanki C S.Boron-rich layer properties formed by boron spin on dopant diffusion in n-type silicon[J]. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 2017, 57: 83-89.
[16] Singha B, Solanki C S.N-type solar cells: advantages, issues, and current scenarios[J]. Materials Research Express, 2017, 4(7): 072001.
[17] Yang N, Li S Z, Yang J L, et al.Avoidance of boron rich layer formation in the industrial boron spin-on dopant diffused n-type silicon solar cell without additional oxidation process[J]. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 2018, 29(23): 20081-20086.
[18] Meier S, Löhmüller S, Mack S, et al.Control of boron diffusion from APCVD BSG layers by interface oxidation[C]//8th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics (SiliconPV). Lausanne, Switzerland, 2018.
[19] Ryu K, Choi C J, Rohatgi A, et al.Study of degradation in bulk lifetime of n-type silicon wafer due to oxidation of boron-rich layer[J]. Current Applied Physics, 2016, 16(5): 497-500.
[20] Phang S P, MacDonald D. Direct comparison of boron, phosphorus, and aluminum gettering of iron in crystalline silicon[J]. Journal of Applied Physics, 2011, 109(7): 073521.
[21] Ryu K, Upadhyaya A, Song H J, et al.Chemical etching of boron-rich layer and its impact on high efficiency n-type silicon solar cells[J]. Applied Physics Letters, 2012, 101(7): 073902.
[22] ur Rehman A, Lee S H. Advancements in n-type base crystalline silicon solar cells and their emergence in the photovoltaic industry[J]. The Scientific World Journal, 2013, 2013: 470347.
[23] Hou C X, Jia R, Tao K, et al.Boron-rich layer removal and surface passivation of boron-doped p-n silicon solar cells[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2018, 39(12): 122004.
[24] Huang Z P, Hu W T, Zhang D, et al.Ceramic roller inline diffusion with lowest standard deviation for crystalline Si solar cells[J]. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 2019, 9(5): 1175-1181.
[25] Horzel J, Schum B, Lachowicz A, et al.On anomalous emitter regions forming during phosphorous diffusion processing of crystalline silicon solar cells[C]//Proceedings of the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition and the 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 2010: 1882-1891.
[26] Song K, Kim B, Lee H, et al.Selective emitter using a screen printed etch barrier in crystalline silicon solar cell[J]. Nanoscale Research Letters, 2012, 7(1): 410.
[27] Dastgheib-Shirazi A, Haverkamp H, Raabe B, et al.Selective emitter for industrial solar cell production: a wet chemical approach using a single side diffusion process[C]//Proceedings of the 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference. Miinchen 2008: 1197.
[28] 王星谕, 蔡昭, 张光春, 等. 太阳电池工艺中链式扩散与管式扩散对比研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2015, 36(4): 855-859.
Wang X Y, Cai Z, Zhang G C, et al.Comparison investigation of chain diffusion to tube diffusion of solar cells process[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2015, 36(4): 855-859.
PDF(1440 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/