Efficiency Potential of p-type PERT vs. PERC Solar Cells

We present an efficiency potential analysis of passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC) and passivated emitter and rear totally diffused (PERT) cells, based on numerical simulations covering a wide range of parameters using a state-of-the-art design of experiment and metamodeling approach. We make full use of the metamodel and optimize the rear contact distance in each simulation by defining it as a free variable. PERT solar cells are simulated respecting free carrier absorption at the boron doped back surface field (BSF). As a result, PERC cells show the highest overall efficiency at a low base resistivity of ρ_b = 0.5 Ωcm, whereas for ρ_b > 1.5 Ωcm PERT cells exceed the efficiency of the respective PERC cells.