35 percent efficient nonconcentrating novel silicon solar cell

An energy conversion efficiency of 35 percent was obtained at 1-sun, air mass 1.5 for a novel silicon cell having an area of 2.3 x 2.3 sq mm cell. The critical feature of the cell structure is the inclusion of local defect layers near a p-n junction. The local defect layers were proven to hold the key to achieving the exceptionally high efficiency of the novel cell fabricated via noncomplex processing. (Author)